Putin calls for dialogue on North Korea

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to solve the issues on the Korean Peninsula via dialogue rather than military intervention.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for a diplomatic solution to issues with North Korea. (AAP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned North Korea's nuclear tests but insists the crisis around the Korean peninsula should be resolved through dialogue.

"We condemn the nuclear tests carried out by North Korea," Putin told scholars and reporters from the Valdai discussion group.

"But it is absolutely necessary to resolve this problem through dialogue and not drive North Korea into a corner, threatening it with the use of force, and not to fall into outright insolence."