The former director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service says a nuclear-armed North Korea, Iran and Pakistan has the potential to ignite "chain reactions" and ultimately threaten Russia's security.

Vyacheslav Trubnikov said Friday in Moscow that "even if Iran, Pakistan and North Korea are not Russian adversaries, their current and projected nuclear potential could destabilize the regional situation.”

Trubnikov explained that those nations' nuclear potential could trigger a chain reaction of proliferation in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey and Egypt, posing additional threats to Russia.