Russia has expressed “strongest possible condemnation” of North Korean fifth nuclear test naming it, in a Foreign Ministry statement, “a serious threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific Region”. The statement also urged North Korea to “end its dangerous and reckless misadventures”.

The timing is awkward for the Kremlin. The test comes right after the Eastern Economic forum in Vladivostok – a signature event in the promotion of Russia’s “Eastern pivot” policy. President Putin held a rare meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye, promising to help “tame” North Korea using the channels of communication that exist between Moscow and Pyongyang. Russian officials should be happy the test didn't come while the conference was going on.