Russia warns against military activity near North Korea

                 
Russia said on Friday that increased military activity near North Korea could cause tension to spiral out of control, implicitly criticizing U.S. bomber flights that followed threats from Pyongyang.              

"We are concerned that alongside the adequate, collective reaction of the U.N. Security Council, unilateral action is being taken around North Korea that is increasing military activity," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists. "The situation could simply get out of control."                

Earlier, increased activities involving vehicles and troops at North Korea's mid- and long-range missile units have been detected by South Korea's military, Yonhap news agency said, just hours after the North's leader ordered rocket units to be ready to attack U.S. bases.                        

"Sharply increased movements of vehicles and soldiers have been detected recently at North Korea's mid and long-range missile sites," South Korea's Yonhap news quoted a military source as saying.                     

"There is a combat duty readiness in effect at the North's missile units since Feb. 26 so there is a possibility they will actually fire."                         

It was impossible to verify the report.            


REUTERS