WW3 preparations? Putin holds huge drill with 8000 troops over North Korea & US war fears – Express.co.uk

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Russia held the "combat readiness check" as global tensions rose rapidly after Kim Jong-un claimed scientists had created a missile which could hit all major US cities.

The drill involved 8,000 troops, 50 warplanes and 3,000 pieces of military kit in Russia's eastern Transbaikal region, just 1,300 miles from its border with North Korea.

Mr Putin held the drill over fears the US is ready to strike North Korea following the hermit kingdom's latest long-range missile test on Friday.

US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said Washington will not seek UN Security Council action as "the time for talk is over".

She said: "North Korea is already subject to numerous Security Council resolutions that they violate with impunity."

The US also accused Russia of bearing "unique and special responsibility" for North Korea.

US President Donald Trump then hit out at China, accusing Beijing, Pyongyang's sole ally, of doing "nothing" for the US over North Korea.

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A Chinese warship operates a live-fire drill during the Joint Sea 2017 in Baltic Sea

He tweeted: "I am very disappointed in China.

"Our foolish past leaders have allowed them to make hundreds of billions of dollars a year in trade, yet they do NOTHING for us with North Korea, just talk.

"We will not longer allow this to continue.

"China could easily solve this problem!"

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Mr Putin shortly after gave the command to carry out the major drill near the North Korea border.

In a statement, the Russian Defence Ministry said: "During the combat readiness check, the personnel of one of the motor-rifle units of the combined-arms army deployed to the Transbaikal region marched for 150 kilometers and crossed the Onon River.

"During the march, Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters covered military hardware."

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe placed further responsibility on Russia today during a phone conversation with Mr Trump.

He said: "We have made consistent efforts to resolve the North Korean problem in a peaceful manner, but North Korea has ignored that entirely and escalated the situation in a one-sided way.

"The international community, starting with China and Russia, must take this obvious fact seriously and increase pressure."

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WW3 preparations? Putin holds huge drill with 8000 troops over North Korea & US war fears - Express.co.uk