Putin: Military Threats at N. Korea May Cause ‘Catastrophe’

Threats of military action against North Korea could cause a “global catastrophe,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin, after a BRIC summit in China on Tuesday. Putin criticized U.S. attempts at diplomacy in particular, noting that tougher sanctions against the reclusive nation were doomed to failure as they would rather “eat grass” than give up their weapons program. He said Pyongyang won’t halt its missile tests until it feels safe. “There’s no other path apart from a peaceful one,” Putin told reporters. “Russia condemns North Korea’s exercises, we consider that they are a provocation ... [But] ramping up military hysteria will lead to nothing good.” Russia shares a border with North Korea and has called for negotiations.