Russia opposes new North Korea sanctions

Russia opposes new sanctions against North Korea following its failed rocket launch, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday "We do not believe in new sanctions, they will not help resolve the situation," Lavrov said at a joint news conference with Chinese and Indian officials in Moscow. Lavrov said sanctions are not the answer even though North Korea's rocket launch Friday violated United Nations Security Council resolutions, RIA Novosti reported. In February, North Korea agreed to halt its nuclear activities and long-range missile tests in exchange for food aid from the United States. US officials said by attempting to launch the rocket North Korea violated the agreement. Lavrov said if the UN Security Council lifted sanctions against North Korea, the country would be free to pursue its civil space program. "Our position is simple: North Korea has the right to use space for peaceful purposes but at the moment this right is restricted by relevant UN Security Council resolutions," he said.