Putin Says At This Point, Sanctions Against North Korea Are 'Useless'

In the wake of North Korea's nuclear test Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said further sanctions against the rogue state would be "useless." 

Yet, Putin wasn't pushing a military option, either. 

South Korea conducted drills Monday and held military exercises at sea Tuesday. 

And U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warned "any threat to the United States ... or our allies will be met with a massive military response." 

But Putin said, "Ramping up military hysteria in such conditions is senseless; it's a dead end. It could lead to a global, planetary catastrophe and a huge loss of human life."

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Putin's argument that diplomacy is the only solution falls in line with China but goes slightly against the U.S. and South Korea. 

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. argued Monday that diplomacy with North Korea would only work if tougher sanctions were imposed first. 

And South Korea's president said Tuesday he was open to talks with the North but now isn't the time.