Russia alone on North Korea situat

Russia has run contrary to popular opinion on the recent North Korean nuclear test in that it believes it was genuine. Speaking shortly after the alleged blast, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov stated that the explosive force was the equivalent of between five to fifteen kilotons of TNT; way in excess of earlier claims from Australian and South Korean seismic studies who believe the blast was inferior to the force of the first atom bombed dropped on Hiroshima.

Russia has cause to be concerned. Sharing a short border with North Korea in the far eastern Primorye region, Russia remains alone in its claim to have detected a genuine nuclear explosion stemming from North Korean territory. President Vladimir Putin has condemned the nuclear test but stated that the controversy must be solved via diplomatic means. Whether this will entail additional sanctions or continued negotiations remains to be seen.