Moscow on Sunday reacted strongly to North Korea’s launch of a long-range rocket, condemning the move as “a serious blow to regional security,” according to media reports.

North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday carrying what it has called a satellite, but its neighbours and Washington denounced the launch as a missile test, conducted in defiance of UN sanctions and just weeks after a nuclear bomb test.

South Korea has said it has agreed to begin talks with Washington on possible deployment of an advanced US missile defense system. Both Russia and China are critical of this deployment, the radar of which, Beijing believes, could penetrate its territory

Russian ally China is opposed to Pyongyang’s nuclear programme and has appealed for calm.

“China expresses regret that North Korea, in spite of the pervasive opposition of the international community, insisted on using ballistic missile technology to carry out a launch,” China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

Speaking to President Park Geun-hye on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he hoped all parties could bear in mind the broader picture of maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, and “calmly deal with the present situation”, China’s Foreign Ministry said.

“The peninsula cannot be nuclearised, and cannot have war or chaos,” Xi said.

North Korea says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme. UN Security Council resolutions bar Pyongyang from using ballistic missile technology.

North Korea carried out its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the rocket launch on Sunday and urged North Korea to “halt its provocative actions”.

Source: MENA