A senior Russian diplomat told media on Tuesday that a conflict on the Korean peninsula would lead to “catastrophic consequences” and that the Kremlin was working to cool tensions.

“We consider that the conflict has no military settlement since it leads to the catastrophic consequences not only for South Korea but for the entire region,” Director of the Foreign Ministry Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Mikhail Ulyanov said, in comments carried by the RIA news agency.

“We exclude a military option… We will not accept it.”

North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong Ho in a statement on Monday said that