Russia Urges US Military to Scale Back in Korean Peninsula

Russia is welcoming North Korea's decision to suspend nuclear and missile tests, while simultaneously urging the United States and South Korea to scale back on their own military activities in the peninsula.

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In a statement released Saturday, Russia's Foreign Ministry said: "We consider this decision to be an important step toward further easing of tensions on the Korean peninsula and the strengthening of positive trends on settlement of the Northeast Asian situation.

"We are urging the United States and the Republic of Korea to take adequate accommodating steps aimed at slowing down military activities in the region and reaching mutually acceptable agreements with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the upcoming intra-Korean and U.S.-North Korean summits."

According to Russian state press agency TASS, Moscow is hoping the situation proceeds along the path originally suggested by Russia and China.

North Korea announced early Saturday that it was suspending all nuclear and missile tests, and focusing its development instead on socialist economic development and peace.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country no longer needs to conduct tests because it has completed its goal of developing nuclear weapons.

"The northern nuclear test ground of the DPRK will be dismantled to transparently guarantee the discontinuance of the nuclear test," North Korean state news agency KCNA said.

Kim is scheduled to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in May, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in next week.

He has recently held meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the CIA's head and Secretary of State appointee, Mike Pompeo.