Russian, U.S. FMs discuss DPRK nuke issue via phone

MOSCOW, June 1 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have discussed possible joint efforts over the issue of a nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

Lavrov and Clinton held a telephone conversation on the U.S. initiative, discussing "joint efforts being made within the UN Security Council in connection with the nuclear test conducted by the DPRK on May 25, as well as certain aspects of the Middle East process," news agencies reported citing a statement from the ministry.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso also held phone talks Saturday on the need for a "most serious" response to the DPRK nuclear test.

The DPRK last week conducted an underground nuclear test and launched several short-range missiles in defiance of previous U.N. resolutions.

The U.N. Security Council said it would seek a new resolution against the DPRK because of the testing.