Russia, France warn of explosive Korea situation

President Vladimir Putin warned Friday of a "major conflict" looming on the Korean Peninsula, calling for crisis talks as France's foreign minister warned of a possible threat to Europe.Nuclear-armed North Korea on Tuesday fired a ballistic missile over Japan into the Pacific, escalating tensions over its atomic programme which have led to bellicose exchanges between Washington and Pyongyang.Putin warned that the region was "on the brink of a major conflict".