Moscow does not recognise North Korea's nuclear status, Putin tells Moon

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Moscow does not recognise North Korea's

nuclear status following extensive talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday on deliberating ways to stop Pyongyang

from making any further provocations.

"I confirmed to South Korean President Moon Jae-in our principled position - we do not recognise the nuclear status of North Korea.

Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programme grossly violates the U.N. Security Council resolution, undermines the non-proliferation

regime, poses a security threat in north-east Asia," Putin said, after the talks at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

"President Putin and I agreed that resolving the North Korean nuclear issue at the earliest date possible is the most important task

the world is facing," the South Korean leader said of his bilateral talks with the Russian president.

"It is clear that it is impossible to solve the problems of the Korean Peninsula by sanctions and pressure alone. One should not give

in to emotions and drive North Korea into a corner. Now more than ever, everyone needs to show composure and avoid steps that lead to

an escalation of tensions," Sputnik quoted Putin, as sayiny, at the Eastern Economic Forum.

Moon earlier underscored the need to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully through negotiations, but said now was not the

time for dialogue.

The Moon-Putin talks came amid growing concerns over North Korea's apparently evolving nuclear and missile capabilities after the

recent sixth nuclear test. Since the beginning of the year, the communist regime has conducted 14 missile launches.