Following a telephone conference between Russian, Chinese, South Korean and US foreign ministers on Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the leaders had "discussed possible joint steps", including measures by the UN Security Council, to respond to the DPRK's statement about its underground nuclear tests."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated the country's "readiness to take part in joint efforts by interested sides with the aim of seeking a peaceful, diplomatic settlement" to the situation surrounding the DPRK.

According to a report by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the DPRK conducted an underground nuclear test on October 9.

The DPRK announced around a week earlier that it would carry out the unprecedented atomic test, the first of its kind by the state, under conditions in which safety was firmly guaranteed.