Russia, China urge caution in countering North Korea's nuclear programme

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and China agree that the development of North Korea's nuclear programme should not be used as an excuse for deploying elements of a U.S. global anti-missile system on the Korean peninsula, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday. Moscow and Beijing also favour measures that would counter North Korea's nuclear programme, but at the same time not hamper a political settlement in the region, Lavrov told a joint news briefing with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. (Reporting by Denis Pinchuk; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Christian Lowe)