Putin brands North Korea sanction useless

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said pursuing further sanctions against the reclusive state of North Korea is "useless", saying "they'd rather eat grass than give up their nuclear programme".  

According to BBC report, the US on Monday said it would table a new UN resolution on tougher sanctions in the wake of the latest test of a nuclear bomb by the country on Sunday.  

But Mr Putin feels the ramping up of "military hysteria" could lead to global catastrophe adding that diplomacy was the only answer.

Speaking at the meeting of the Brics group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in Xiamen, China, Putin said who condemned the North's test as "provocative", said: 

Sanctions of any kind would now be useless and ineffective.

They'd rather eat grass than abandon their [nuclear weapons] programme unless they feel secure. And what can establish security? The restoration of international law. We should promote dialogue among all interested parties."

Citing a "humanitarian aspect", Putin said millions of people would suffer under tougher measures, adding: "Sanctions have been exhausted."

China, the country's main ally, has also called for a return to negotiations. Meanwhile, North Korea's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Han Tae-song, said his country's recent "self-defence measures" were a "gift package addressed to the US".  

The US will receive more gift packages from my country as long as it relies on reckless provocations and futile attempts to put pressure on the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying.