North Korea has claimed that it has developed an advanced hydrogen bomb said to have 'great destructive power'. Source: Fox News
South Korean president Moon Jae-in has begged Vladimir Putin to help "tame" North Korea before the situation spins entirely out of control.
"The global political situation has become very serious due to North Korea's repeated provocations," Moon told the Russian president as the two met after a summit in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, according to South Korean media.
"I believe the situation may enter an uncontrollable state if the North does not halt its provocations. So I wish to work together to have North Korea stop its provocations and find ways to fundamentally resolve the North Korean nuclear issue," Moon added.
His plea came after North Korea carried out its largest nuclear test to date on Sunday, and amid fears the rogue state is planning a long-range missile launch ahead of a key anniversary this weekend.
Moon said Putin had agreed that resolving the North Korean nuclear issue is the most urgent task, Yonhap news agency reported.
The South Korean president had stressed the need for stronger sanctions against the North, including cutting off its oil supply, in an earlier call with his Russian counterpart. But Putin had been reluctant to give any immediate response, after yesterday commenting that further sanctions would be "useless and inefficient".
The Russian President said imposing tougher sanctions on trade partner North Korea over its nuclear missile program would be counter-productive and spoke out against "military hysteria" after the United States called for the "strongest possible measures" to rein in the rogue state.
"Russia condemns North Korea's exercises, we consider that they are a provocation," he said, but added: "Whipping up military hysteria makes absolutely no sense in this situation ... This is a road to nowhere.
The Russian President spoke out against "military hysteria" after the US called for the "strongest possible measures" to rein in the rogue state. Photo / AP
"All of this can lead to a global planetary catastrophe and a great number of victims."
Putin refused to directly criticise Donald Trump, but said it was preposterous for Washington to ask for Moscow's help after sanctioning Russian companies accused of violating North Korea sanctions.
"It's ridiculous to put us on the same (sanctions) list as North Korea and then ask for our help in imposing sanctions on North Korea," said Putin. "This is being done by people who mix up Australia with Austria."
Pyongyang appears determined to continue its nuclear bomb and missile tests until it is confident it could strike the United States, while Trump - who spoke with Malcolm Turnbull this morning - is committed to stopping Kim Jong-un's progress.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley accused the North Korean leader of "begging for war". She urged the 15-member Security Council to impose the "strongest possible" sanctions to deter him and shut down his trading partners.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was also in Vladivostok to discuss North Korea with Moon and Putin, said on Wednesday he wanted the North to understand it has "no bright future" if it continues on its current path.
A top North Korean diplomat warned on Tuesday his country is ready to send "more gift packages" to the US.
Han Tae Song, Pyongyang's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, confirmed that North Korea had successfully conducted its sixth and largest nuclear bomb test on Sunday.
Japan upgraded its assessment of the hydrogen bomb test to 160 kilotons from 120 kilotons after the size of the earthquake it generated was revised to 6.1.
"The recent self-defence measures by my country, DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), are a gift package addressed to none other than the US," Han told a disarmament conference.
"The US will receive more 'gift packages' ... as long as it relies on reckless provocations and futile attempts to put pressure on the DPRK."
Diplomats have said the Security Council could consider banning North Korean textile exports, barring its airline and stopping supplies of oil to the government and military.
China and Russia have advocated a "freeze for freeze" plan, where the United States and Seoul halt major military drills in exchange for North Korea halting its weapons programs, but neither side is willing to budge.
