Russia reiterated its opposition Thursday to unilateral sanctions against North Korea, saying all but U.N. Security Council sanctions are illegal.

"Pressuring any countries by imposing unilateral sanctions on them for political purposes is illegal," Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a press briefing. "We recognize only sanctions imposed by UN Security Council."

She was responding to a question from Yonhap News Agency about whether Russia is willing to suspend joint economic projects with North Korea as part of international efforts to impose unilateral sanctions on Pyongyang in response to its nuclear and missile tests. (Yonhap)