Russian President Vladimir Putin called additional United Nations sanctions against North Korea “useless and ineffective,” saying the communist nation’s leadership would rather “eat grass” than abandon its nuclear weapons program.
According to the NY Post, Putin was speaking with world leaders at an international summit in China when he commented on US pressure to increase multilateral sanctions against Kim Jong Un following his sixth nuclear test.
The Russian leader warned the United States that additional sanctions would be “useless,” saying dictator Kim Jong Un believes the survival of his government depends on continuing its nuclear and missile programs.
“Saddam Hussein rejected the production of weapons of mass destruction, but even under that pretense, he was destroyed and members of his family were killed,” he said. “The country was demolished and Saddam Hussein was hanged. Everyone knows that and everyone in North Korea knows that,” said Putin.
“They will eat grass but they will not turn away from the path that will provide for their security,” he added.
Though the Kremlin harshly condemned Kim’s nuclear test, Putin also urged the US to back-down from its harsh rhetoric, saying the Trump administration was suffering from “military hysteria.”