Remarks to the press by Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations
Q: Do you think there should be any consideration of new sanctions after yesterday’s missile launch?
A: Sanctions? Let’s see. We will have a meeting later tonight asked by Japan as you know. The Council will convene and will discuss first. We were saying back then that sanctions alone are not the way out of it. We have to be in innovative inventive and involving, but we don’t want to prejudge the Security Council’s considerations later tonight, so I think it would be better to talk after that.
Q: Do you think there should be any kind of action or response from the Council?
A: There may be some kind of response from the Council, what kind of response we will see tonight, but as we said, more than what we had before, we need political approaches.
Q: Ambassador, President Trump said in a statement on DPRK this morning that all options are on the table. Is that troubling to Moscow?
A: Of course it is troubling because tensions are high. Whose nerves are stronger we don’t know yet. Let’s see what the Security Council says later tonight.
Q: So, new sanctions were only adopted three weeks ago. Do you think they should be given time?
A: Yes, I think so. You know, even contemplating an idea of new sanctions while we have just adopted the resolution on August 5, devalues the idea itself.
Q: One more question. After missile yesterday went over Japan what message is Russia sending to North Korea?
А: We are saying clearly that this is a violation of all UN resolutions that have been adopted on their missile program.
Q: Do you think Japan has grounds to react in some way militarily?
A: God forbid.
