Hopes that the United Nations will pass cutting financial sanctions against North Korea to punish it for the third nuclear test have been dashed today by comments made by Russian diplomats.

Today Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told a news conference, “Any additional measures of pressure on North Korea should be aimed exclusively at the sphere of non-proliferation of nuclear arms and rocket launches.”

He added “We are against measures that would affect normal trade and economic relations with North Korea. We understand our Chinese colleagues have similar views.”

Despite Gatilov’s comments, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has not made