The Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is considering possible changes in its doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Essentially, the doctrine states that Russia can use weapons of this type in response to a nuclear attack or in the event of an attack with conventional weapons that poses a threat to the state, the agency noted.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, some hawks among Russian military analysts have advocated for Moscow to lower its tolerance threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. However, Putin claims that there is no need for Russia to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike.
He spoke to reporters in Vietnam a day after visiting North Korea for a summit with its leader Kim Jong-un. The two signed a treaty, according to which each side promises to provide immediate military support to the other in the event of armed aggression against either of them.
Moscow expects its cooperation with North Korea to serve as a deterrent to the West, but there is no need to use North Korean soldiers in the war in Ukraine, Putin said, as quoted by Russian state media. The Russian president did not rule out the possibility of Moscow providing high-precision weapons to Pyongyang.
Putin also commented on the situation with the West, accusing the NATO military alliance of creating a threat to the security of Russia and other countries in Asia.
"We see what is happening in Asia; a block system is being created," he declared.
"NATO is already "moving" there (in Asia), as if of permanent residence. This, of course, poses a threat to all countries in the region, including the Russian Federation. We are obliged to respond to this and we will do so," the Russian president added.
Concerned about China's growing military power, the US is pushing for NATO to share experience and build ties with countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, Reuters notes.