North Korea will be able to send long range missiles within months, France says

France’s Foreign Minister has said that North Korea would be able to send long-range missiles in a few months and has urged China to be more active to resolve the crisis. His comments came as Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of a ‘major conflict’ looming on the Korean Peninsula, calling for talks to control the crisis.

North Korea fire a missile that flew over Japan and land in waters off the northern region of Hokkaido on 29 August.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, France’s Foreign Minister, told RTL radio: “The situation is extremely serious. We see North Korea setting itself as an objective to have tomorrow or the day after missiles that can transport nuclear weapons. In a few months that will be a reality.

“At the moment, when North Korea has the means to strike the United States, even Europe, but definitely Japan and China, then the situation will be explosive.”

Putin warned: “The problems in the region will only be solved via direct dialogue between all concerned parties, without preconditions.

“Threats, pressure and insulting and militant rhetoric are a dead end.”