Putin warns against emotion after N.Korea missiles

MOSCOW, July 6 (Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin today said that concern about North Korean missile launches should not trigger an emotional reaction ''that would drown out common sense.'' In a televised webcast, Putin, who expressed disappointment at the launches this week, also said Russian experts felt North Korea was a long way from being able to launch a long-range missile.

''According to our experts, in order to increase the range of the missiles that North Korea has from 1,000 km to 3,500 km or 6,000 km, they need to take those missiles 600 km into outer space and that's impossible, considering the level of technological development in North Korea, at least for the foreseeable future,'' he said.

REUTERS SB ND1916