Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that the tense standoff between North Korea and the United States was on the verge of large-scale conflict and said it was a mistake to try to pressure Pyongyang over its nuclear missile program. Putin, who is due to attend a summit of the BRICS nations in China next week, wrote in an article published

on the Kremlin’s web site ahead of his trip that he favoured negotiations with North Korea instead.  “It is essential to resolve the region’s problems through direct dialogue involving all sides without advancing any preconditions (for such talks),” Putin wrote. “Provocations, pressure, and bellicose and offensive rhetoric is the road to nowhere.” MORE