MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday condemned North Korea’s latest nuclear test, but also warned against using military force against the country, calling it a « road to nowhere » that could lead to a « global catastrophe. »
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday condemned North Korea’s latest nuclear test, but also warned against using military force against the country, calling it a « road to nowhere » that could lead to a « global catastrophe. »
Russia condemns North Korea’s nuclear test as « provocative, » Putin told a televised news conference in China. But he stopped short of expressing willingness to impose more sanctions on North Korea, saying Moscow viewed them as « useless and ineffective. »
Putin said North Korea’s neighbors should engage with it, not whip up « military hysteria. »
« It’s a road to nowhere. Whipping up military hysteria — this will lead to no good, » he said. « It could cause a global catastrophe and an enormous loss of life. »
North Korea conducted its most powerful nuclear test to date on Sunday, triggering warnings from the United States of a « massive military response. » Rattled by the test, South Korea on Tuesday conducted live-fire exercises at sea in its second straight day of military displays.
The Russian president, who was in China for a summit of leading emerging economies, told reporters that he had remarked to one of his counterparts at the talks that North Korea « will eat grass but will not give up the (nuclear) program, if they don’t feel safe.
