Russia has made clear its opposition to the imposing of U.N. sanctions on North Korea over its recent rocket launch.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said Thursday that his country is against further sanctions on Pyongyang, adding that stronger sanctions could further isolate or anger North Korea and may even result in inappropriate or retaliatory measures.

The spokesman said the most appropriate response by the U.N. on the North’s rocket launch would be the adoption of a chairman’s statement in which the North is urged to effectively implement U.N. Resolution 1718.

The U.N. Security Council is facing difficulties in coming up with a response as the United States and Japan are seeking stronger sanctions on the North while Russia and China continue to resist such calls.