Putin warns against backing North Korea into a corner

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned the United States not to back North Korea “into a corner,” while urging dialogue amid heightened tensions, NBC News reported.

“Problems should be solved in dialogue, and North Korea should not be backed into a corner,” Putin reportedly said in a speech organized by Valdai Discussion Club, a group that aims to “promote dialogue of Russian and international intellectual elites.”

While Putin fell short of directly naming the U.S., he said the current situation is heading down the path toward a conflict.

Late last month, Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov also warned that the strong rhetoric between Washington and Pyongyang could have dangerous consequences.

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Putin’s remarks came shortly after North Korea said Thursday it could hit the U.S. with an “unimaginable” nuclear strike after an American aircraft carrier made a show of strength off the Korean Peninsula.

President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have hurled serious threats back and forth in recent months, stepping up their high-stakes war of words.

Trump warned last month he would “totally destroy North Korea” if it continues to threaten the U.S. or its allies, while also mocking its leader as “Little Rocket Man.”

The back and forth comes after the isolated nation conducted a series of missile and nuclear tests to display its progress in developing a nuclear missile that is capable of striking the United States.