Vladimir Putin warns against cornering North Korea

Moscow, Oct 19: Russia's President Vladimir Putin has warned that North Korea must not be "backed into a corner" and urged dialogue to end its nuclear standoff with the US.

While condemning Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, Putin said the standoff should be settled through dialogue, without "cornering North Korea, threatening to use force or going down to outright boorishness and swearing."

Speaking today to international policy experts at the Valdai forum in Sochi, Putin criticised the US and its allies for missing a chance to build a safer and more stable world after the Cold War.

The Russian leader also noted that the US has been slow to dismantle its chemical weapons arsenals in line with an international treaty, while Russia last month wrapped up the destruction of its chemical weapons stockpiles.

PTI