MOSCOW. Dec 17 (Interfax) - While the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is preparing to return to North Korea, Pyongyang must invite the agency's secretariat to inspect its facilities, and there is still a long way to go before that happens, Russian Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said.
"Pyongyang has to invite the IAEA to ensure the review of the agreements [on the nuclear problem]. Pyongyang currently sees the agency as an enemy," Ulyanov said from Vienna during a videolink news conference on Monday.
"The secretariat is preparing to return to North Korea, but there is still a long way to go," he said.
While Moscow views the pressure put on North Korea as warranted, it calls for appreciating the steps Pyongyang has made toward de-escalation of the tensions, he said.
"Our Western partners are determined to pressure and intimidate the DPRK as much as possible," he said.
"Pressure on Pyongyang is necessary and warranted, but it would be wrong not to see that Pyongyang has already made a number of steps that need to be appraised," Ulyanov said.