Russia rejects Washington call to cut ties with N. Korea

Russia has rejected the U.S. call to cut ties with North Korea after Pyongyang launched ballistic missiles on Wednesday.

"We perceived this negatively," Al Jazeera reported, citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as saying.

"We have repeatedly stated that the pressure of sanctions has been exhausted," he told journalists in the Belarusian capital, Minsk.

His comments come in response to Washington's statement on the need to cut ties with North Korea.

U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley on Wednesday called on all countries to sever ties with Pyongyang. The Trump administration has also vowed to slap additional sanctions.

In addition to refusal, Lavrov also questioned the United States' intention and asked whether the Washington was plotting to destroy the isolated country.

"The Americans need to explain what they are aiming for. If they are looking for a reason to destroy North Korea, then they should say it straight and the American leadership should confirm it," Lavrov was quoted as saying," Lavrov said.

Last month, President Donald Trump said Russia was hurting U.S. efforts to disarm the North Korea of its nuclear weapons.

North Korea carried out its new missile test early on Wednesday after a 75-day pause.

The missile firing comes a week after United States President Donald Trump said North Korea fell under the list of countries that backs terrorism.