Putin: Intensifying Sanctions Against North Korea Will Have Negative Consequences

While the United States has called for the "strongest possible sanctions" against North Korea from everyone, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Tuesday, September 5, that such sanctions would yield a "negative result" and that military threats against North Korea could lead to a "global disaster." According to Reuters, Putin, speaking at a meeting in China, criticized U.S. diplomacy towards North Korea, stating that Pyongyang would not cease its missile tests until it feels "secure," even if its people are forced to eat grass. North Korea, which had previously threatened to target the U.S. mainland, announced on Sunday, September 3, that it had tested a hydrogen bomb "designed for long-range missiles." In response to this action, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley stated that the North Korean leader "wants war" and warned that U.S. patience has its limits. On Monday, September 4, during an emergency Security Council meeting, Haley said that "only the strongest sanctions will allow us to resolve this issue diplomatically." She announced that Washington intends to present a new sanctions resolution to the UN in the coming days and to put it to a vote next Monday. The U.S. representative also added that the U.S. considers any country trading with North Korea as aiding its dangerous nuclear intentions. President Donald Trump has also threatened in a series of tweets that the U.S. will halt trade relations with countries that do business with North Korea, a threat that may particularly target China, a major supporter of the North Korean regime. In response to these developments, the Russian president stated that Moscow "condemns North Korea's military maneuvers and considers them provocative... but increasing military tension will lead nowhere and may result in a global disaster." Putin called for dialogue with North Korea and stated that his country is ready to discuss "some details of this issue," but did not provide further explanation. He, whose country is under Western sanctions, added: "It is ridiculous that we are placed on the same list as North Korea and then asked to impose sanctions against it." Putin emphasized: "North Korea should not live in the shadow of the fear that it will be destroyed; there should be dialogue with this country." China, along with Russia, has recently called for "calm" and finding a diplomatic solution to the Korean Peninsula crisis. South Korea, which is at the forefront of a potential war with North Korea, held a naval exercise on Tuesday, during which live ammunition was fired. Meanwhile, the South Korean Ministry of Defense has reported the possibility of the re-deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons on South Korean soil. Donald Trump and Moon Jae-in, the presidents of the U.S. and South Korea, have reached agreements in a phone conversation, under which restrictions on South Korean missiles are set to be reduced.