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North Korea and United States on brink of war, warns Vladimir Putin

2017-09-02 09:25:18       source:The Sydney Morning Herald

September 2, 2017


Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the standoff between North Korea and the United States is close to spilling into a large-scale conflict, and said it was a mistake to try to pressure Pyongyang into halting its nuclear missile programme.


Mr Putin, due to attend a summit of the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in China next week, said the only way to de-escalate tensions was via talks, and Sergei Lavrov, his foreign minister, said Washington – not Pyongyang – should take the initiative.


"It is essential to resolve the region's problems through direct dialogue involving all sides without advancing any preconditions (for such talks)," Mr Putin, whose country shares a border with North Korea, wrote on the Kremlin's website.


Read more:

http://www.smh.com.au/world/north-korea-and-united-states-on-brink-of-war-warns-vladimir-putin-20170901-gy9dnl.html