S. Korean, Russian foreign ministers to hold phone talks on N. Korea

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pledged Wednesday to cooperate on the U.N.'s move to deal with North Korea's latest nuclear test, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Lavrov delivered the message in a telephone conversation with his South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se.

He was quoted as saying that Moscow agrees to the seriousness of the North's nuclear weapons development.

He added Russia will actively participate in consultations at the U.N. Security Council to punish Pyongyang under the principles that its nuclear arsenal won't be tolerated and peace on the peninsula should be promoted, said the ministry.

Last week, Pyongyang claimed it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, drastically raising tensions in the region to a new high. As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, Russia's role will be critical in adopting a new sanctions resolution punishing the North for its fourth nuclear test.

North Korea is already under a wide array of sanctions for its three previous nuclear tests, which are banned by past resolutions.

Earlier, Yun held phone talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida shortly after the North's test last Wednesday. He also spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday. The ministry noted Russia's New Year's holiday season ended on Sunday.

The five countries are all members of the six-party talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The negotiations, however, have broken down since their last session in late 2008. (Yonhap)