FILE PHOTO: Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova listens during the annual news conference of the Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (not pictured) in Moscow, Russia January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that a possible U.S. deployment of missiles in the Asia-Pacific region would pose a threat to international security.

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said earlier this month that he was in favour of placing ground-launched, intermediate-range missiles in Asia relatively soon.

“U.S. actions are creating a threat for international security,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters at a weekly televised briefing.