Moscow, Feb 20 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Russia has said it will not support trade sanctions against North Korea but is ready to support additional UN Security Council sanctions aimed at Pyongyang's controversial nuclear programme.

"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," Russian deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said Tuesday.

"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."

On Jan 12, seismic activity was detected in North Korea. Pyongyang state media later confirmed that the country 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".