“In principle, we are ready to support additional UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea, which held a nuclear test last week. It all depends on the nature of those sanctions,” Gatilov said.

“It’s too early to say what kind of measures we will be ready to support. Anyway, apparently, it should be measures aimed at preventing North Korea from taking further actions related to nuclear non-proliferation and a future nuclear test,” he said. “But we will oppose sanctions damaging normal trade and economic relations with North Korea.”

Seismic activity was detected in North Korea at 11:58 a.m. Korean time (02:58 GMT) on January 12, fuelling suspicions the country had carried out an underground nuclear test. Pyongyang state media confirmed later that day it had carried out its third nuclear test.

The 15-member UN Security Council issued a statement last week condemning the nuclear blast, calling it a “grave violation” of UN resolutions banning Pyongyang from conducting such tests and "a clear threat to international peace and security."