Vladimir Putin warns against 'intimidating' North Korea after its latest missile test

Russian President calls for peaceful solution to ongoing tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking to the media at the China National Convention Center (AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning against “intimidating” North Korea after its “dangerous” missile test.

Mr Putin called for a peaceful solution to ongoing tensions after he disputed US claims that the previous missile test landed dangerously close to the Russian city of Vladivostok.

The US claimed the missile crashed just 60 miles off Russia’s coast line, but this was disputed by Russia’s ministry of defence who said the figure was more than 300 miles.

Mr Putin, speaking at an international forum in Beijing, was adamant that “we must stop intimidating North Korea”.

"I would like to confirm that we are categorically against the expansion of the club of nuclear states, including through the Korean Peninsula," Mr Putin said, CNN reported.

"We are against it and consider it counterproductive, damaging, dangerous.”

His comments come after White House press secretary Sean Spicer suggested the missile test could provoke a forceful response from the Russians.

North Korea tested a Hwasong-12 missile which flew 489 miles and reached an altitude of 1,312 miles, according to state news agency KCNA.

Analysts estimated the missile put the US territory of Guam, which is home to the Andersen Air Force Base, within its reach.