Vladimir Putin demands the West ‘stop intimidating North Korea’ despite crackpot Kim Jong-un launching a missile that landed just 60 miles off Russia
Vlad said: 'We must stop intimidating North Korea and find a peaceful solution to this problem'
VLADIMIR Putin waded into the North Korea crisis this morning and told Donald Trump: 'Stop bullying Kim.'
Russia's ironman leader warned the "intimidation" of Kim Jong-un's regime must end.
He said: "We must stop intimidating North Korea and find a peaceful solution to this problem."
But Vlad also had words of warning for the wannabe nuclear state - telling Kim he must not build his nuclear arsenal.
One test landed within 60 miles of Russia's Far Eastern coast on Saturday night.
most read in news
At a meeting on his state visit to China, Putin added: "We are categorically against the expansion of the club of nuclear powers.
"We consider [the missile test] counter-productive, harmful and dangerous."
Despot Kim is trying to fit a nuclear warhead to one of his ballistic missiles - the largest of which it is feared could hit the US.
Following the latest test, a White House statement said: "With the missile impacting so close to Russian soil – in fact, closer to Russia than to Japan – the President cannot imagine that Russia is pleased.
“North Korea has been a flagrant menace for far too long. South Korea and Japan have been watching this situation closely with us.
“The United States maintains our ironclad commitment to stand with our allies in the face of the serious threat posed by North Korea.
“Let this latest provocation serve as a call for all nations to implement far stronger sanctions against North Korea.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently in Beijing for a two-day ‘Belt and Road’ conference hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Officials in Japan and South Korea were quick to slam the test. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe branded the missile “totally unacceptable” and a “grave threat” to Tokyo.
He said: "We strongly protest against North Korea."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368