Russian President Vladimir Putin has lambasted Washington and Seoul’s drive to toughen sanctions against North Korea, adding that Pyongyang would “eat grass” rather than simply give up its nuclear programme.

Speaking after the US asked the UN to impose stronger sanctions against a North Korea that Washington says is “begging for war”, Mr Putin argued that “military hysteria” could lead to global catastrophe.

The Russian president’s call for an increased focus on diplomacy not only reduces the prospect of punitive UN sanctions in response to Pyongyang’s biggest nuclear test to date but could also be intended to drive a wedge between Washington and South Korea. Seoul has said it would begin lobbying the UN to staunch North Korea’s oil supply but is more alarmed about the risk of military action than is Donald Trump’s administration.