Putin: North Korea crisis may be ‘impossible’ to solve, by Hilary Whiteman.

A day after predicting “global catastrophe” if North Korea’s nuclear tests lead to anything other than talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the situation may be “impossible” to resolve. …

Putin repeated his assertion that sanctions and pressure won’t be enough to rein in North Korea. …

North Korea has shown no signs of changing its tone or ambitions. The country’s official news wire quoted a senior official Wednesday expressing pure joy over Pyongyang’s nuclear prowess.

“Picturing to myself the US, the cursed state of aggression, being submerged in a sea of fire by our H-bomb-loaded ICBM for its slightest provocation, I cannot repress my excitement,” Ko Hyok Chol was quoted as saying.