TODAY: Russia back firm but cautious stance on North Korea; Russia-NATO council meeting on level of ambassadors; Russia-Georgia discuss border reopening; Kremlin seeks extradition of Yukos’ Spanish head; Putin tries his hand at journalism

Vitaly Churkin, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has said that Russia will back a ‘strong resolution’ on North Korea.  According to other sources, Russia believes that a blockade should not be imposed, ‘in any case it is counterproductive to raise the question of the DPRK’s international isolation. The path to dialogue should not be disrupted, and the problem can be solved only in political and diplomatic ways’.  An article in the Moscow Times explains why Russia has the most to lose from North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.  ‘One of the most dangerous chemical weapons arsenals in the world is finally getting demilitarized’; the New York Times reports on the rebuilding of a Siberian weapons cache discovered in 1994 and since rebuilt with American aid.  Russian Ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin says that  ‘a deep content analysis of our relations’ will take place at today’s ambassadorial-level meeting of the NATO-Russia Council.