Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday urged the international community to hold fresh talks to try to resolve the North Korean crisis, warning that progress would be "impossible" without a commitment to dialogue.
"It is clear that it is impossible to resolve the problem of the Korean Peninsula only by sanctions and pressure," Putin told reporters at a joint news conference with South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in.
Speaking in the Russian city of Vladivostok, Putin condemned North Korea's ongoing nuclear and missile program, describing the tests as a flagrant violation of UN rules.
'Global catastrophe'
The isolated regime has conducted a flurry of missile tests in recent weeks amid escalating international unease. On Sunday, Pyongyang detonated its sixth – and largest ever – nuclear explosion.
Russia, which shares a border with North Korea, has repeatedly called for negotiations with Pyongyang, suggesting that the U.S. and South Korea should discontinue all war games in exchange for North Korea halting its testing program.
On Tuesday, Putin said imposing tougher sanctions on Pyongyang would be counter-productive and said threats of military action could prompt a "global catastrophe."
Shortly after Pyongyang launched a missile that flew over Japan last week, President Donald Trump said "talking is not the answer" when it comes to reining in North Korea.
