Russia hopes for positive progress on Korean peninsula

Russia hopes for positive developments on the Korean peninsula, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday."We believe the situation is very grave, because nuclear tests, missiles launches are not jokes," Lavrov told a local TV channel in an interview.He said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s open violation of the U.N. Security Council resolution was unacceptable.Moscow had consistently tried to calm the situation on the Korean Peninsula and stood for a "reasonable and peaceful solution" for all, he said.Meanwhile, Russia was not going to take sides in the confrontation between Pyongyang and its neighbors, Lavrov said, adding the situation demanded patience instead of demonstration of force and threats. "We hope for the better," he said.Lavrov also praised the United States' decision to cancel its intercontinental missile test, saying the decision should encourage all relevant sides not to pump up confrontation and emotions but to try through diplomacy to steer away from the "road shoulder" to the resumption of the six-party talks.The U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile test was originally planned to take place in California next week but was postponed amid the heightened tensions with the DPRK.Rumors that Russia would hold military exercises with the DPRK was "an insane option," Lavrov noted, adding Moscow had been busy working with the U.S., the DPRK, Japan, Republic of Korea and China to ease the tension on the Korean peninsula.