In talks, the Russian and Japanese leaders agreed that North Korea threatened regional peace and global nuclear non-proliferation but didn't agree on a way forward
Vladimir Putin has condemned North Korea’s recent launch of a ballistic missile over Japan.
After his meeting with the Russian President at an economic forum in Vladivostok, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the two leaders agreed Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test posed a severe threat to both regional peace and global nuclear non-proliferation.
Putin’s disapproval stopped short of sanctions, however
He said “Resolving the situation on the Korean Peninsula […] is only possible through political and diplomatic means. First we need to dial down general tensions and then to begin dialogue between all interested parties, as proposed in the Russian-Chinese road map of gradual settlement.”
No global consensus
China also continues to favour a diplomatic solution.
After President Xi stressed the importance of negotations in a telephone call with the US President earlier this week, however, Donald Trump expressed some scepticism about this tactic and refused to rule out military action.
With very little common ground, global leaders are struggling to agree an approach to an increasingly bellicose Kim Jong-Un.