S. Korea calls for Russia’s efforts to manage bilateral ties after Moscow warns of countermeasures over sanctions

South Korea on Thursday urged Russia to make corresponding efforts to manage their bilateral relations after Moscow warned of measures against Seoul's recent decision to slap sanctions on its vessels and individuals. On Tuesday, South Korea imposed sanctions on two Russian individuals and their companies involved in the illegal sending of North Korean IT workers overseas, as well as two Russian vessels involved in shipping containers of military supplies between Pyongyang and Moscow. Russia's foreign ministry criticized the decision the following day and vowed to take action in response to the "unfriendly" move. "We are making active efforts to manage ties between South Korea and Russia while strictly dealing with the illegal cooperation between Russia and North Korea," foreign ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk told a regular press briefing. "We urge Russia to make appropriate efforts." Lim stressed that cooperation between Russia and North Korea should be achieved in accordance with the norms of internat ional law and the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions without harming the security of South Korea. Seoul's latest sanctions came after the UNSC failed to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts monitoring sanctions on North Korea by another year due to Russia's veto. The panel's mandate had been extended annually since it was launched in 2009. Source: Yonhap News Agency