News Report: North Korea Won't Be Recognized as Nuclear Power - Moscow

North Korea won't be recognized as a nuclear power by the international community, a Russian diplomat said, adding that the crisis on the Korean peninsula could be resolved only through political means.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The international community will not recognize North Korea as a nuclear state despite Pyongyang apparently has nuclear weapons, Mikhail Ulyanov, the Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control, said at a press conference in the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency on Tuesday.

Speaking on the ways to resolve the escalating crisis on the Korean Peninsula, the diplomat ruled out a military solution, saying a conflict would lead to disastrous consequences for the region.

"We believe that this conflict has no military solution because it is connected with catastrophic consequences… for the entire region," Ulyanov said at a press conference in the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency.

News Story: DPRK wishes for maintaining traditional ties with Russia

PYONGYANG, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Friday expressed its wish to maintain traditional ties with Russia when marking the 68th anniversary of the conclusion of an economic and cultural cooperation agreement between the two countries.

The daily Rodong Sinmun (Labor News) said that the conclusion of the agreement between the DPRK and the former Soviet Union on March 17, 1949 was the first of its kind concluded between the DPRK and Russia to provide a legal base for developing mutually beneficial cooperation and exchanges.

"Since the historic day the two countries have steadily developed the cooperation and exchanges in various fields including economy and culture and deepened the bonds of friendship for the last 68 years," the daily said.

In the 21st century, several meetings were held between DPRK late leader Kim Jong Il and Russian President Vladimir Putin and historic joint documents were adopted in that course, it said.

Read the full story at Xinhua