Russia & China concerned by NKorean missile over Japan

After North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan Tuesday, Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said Russia was “extremely worried” about “a tendency towards an escalation,” although he blamed “the huge joint US-South Korean military exercise” for “provoking” Pyongyang. China said tensions on the Korean peninsula have reached "tipping point" and urged restraint. "We see a tendency towards an escalation … and we are extremely concerned by the general developments." Chinesed foreign ministry spokeswoman called for peace talks, saying "pressure and sanctions" against North Korea "cannot fundamentally solve the issue".

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that the missile which overflew Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, was "an unprecedented, serious and grave threat" to regional security. The UN Security Council meets later Tuesday to discuss the test, diplomats said.