Lavrov warns US missile system deployment to Asia-Pacific leads to serious risks

Deployment of US missile defense system to the Asia-Pacific region may result in serious risks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday. He made the statement after talks with Japan involving foreign and defense ministers. “We took note of serious risks posed by the deployment of elements of the global missile defense system of the US to the Asia-Pacific region,” TASS quoted Lavrov as saying. “If this is about the threats coming from North Korea, then the creation of such a missile defense system as well as arms buildup in the region is not a proportionate response,” he noted. Lavrov added that positions of Moscow and Tokyo coincide that North Korea should fully comply with all UN Security Council resolutions.