Breaking News English

Putin warns of 'global catastrophe' over N Korea

Global Catastrophe - Level 0

Vladimir Putin said the North Korean crisis could cause a "planetary catastrophe". He said many people would die. He said talking was the only answer. Mr Putin warned that military action was very dangerous. He said North Korea would "eat grass" instead of stop its nuclear programme because they do not feel safe.

Tensions are dangerous because North Korea carried out its biggest ever nuclear test. The UN told North Korea to stop. Mr Putin said sanctions against North Korea will never work. The USA said North Korea was "begging for war". It said: "War is never something the US wants….We will defend our allies."

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Global Catastrophe - Level 1

Vladimir Putin warned that the North Korean crisis could cause a "planetary catastrophe". He said war would cause a huge loss of life. He told reporters that talking was the only answer. He warned the USA and North Korea that military action was very dangerous. Mr Putin said North Korea would never stop its nuclear programme. He said: "They will eat grass instead of stopping their nuclear programme, as long as they do not feel safe."

Tensions in Korea are at dangerous levels because North Korea carried out its biggest ever nuclear test. The UN told North Korea to stop its testing. Many countries want strong sanctions against North Korea. Mr Putin said sanctions would never work and they would be useless. A US ambassador said North Korea was "begging for war". She said: "War is never something the US wants. We don't want it now. But our…patience is not unlimited. We will defend our allies."

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Global Catastrophe - Level 2

Slowest

Russia's Vladimir Putin warned that the North Korean crisis could cause a "planetary catastrophe". He said war on the Korean Peninsular would cause a huge loss of life. He told reporters in China that "peaceful dialogue" was the only way to end the crisis. He warned the USA and North Korea that talking about military action was very dangerous and "senseless". Mr Putin said North Korea would never stop its nuclear programme. He said: "They will eat grass instead of stopping their nuclear programme, as long as they do not feel safe."

Tensions in Korea are at dangerous levels. On Sunday, North Korea carried out its biggest ever nuclear test. The United Nations met to tell North Korea to stop its testing. Many countries want stronger sanctions against North Korea. Mr Putin said sanctions have never worked and would never work. He said they would be useless. The US ambassador to the UN said North Korea was "begging for war" because of its actions. She said: "War is never something the US wants. We don't want it now. But our country's patience is not unlimited. We will defend our allies and our territory."

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Global Catastrophe - Level 3

Russia's president Vladimir Putin has warned that the crisis over North Korea could cause a "planetary catastrophe". He said if war broke out on the Korean Peninsular, there would be a huge loss of life. He told reporters at a meeting in China that talking and "peaceful dialogue" were the only ways to end the crisis. He warned the USA and North Korea that talking about military action and war was very dangerous. He said: "Ramping up military hysteria in such conditions is senseless. It's a dead end." Mr Putin said North Korea would never give up its nuclear programme. He said: "They will eat grass instead of stopping their nuclear programme, as long as they do not feel safe."

Tensions in Korea are reaching very dangerous levels. On Sunday, North Korea carried out its most powerful nuclear test ever. The United Nations Security Council met after to tell North Korea to stop its testing. Many countries called for stronger sanctions against North Korea. Mr Putin said sanctions have never worked and would never work. He said sanctions against North Korea would be useless and ineffective. The US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said North Korea was "begging for war" because of its words and actions. She said: "War is never something the United States wants. We don't want it now. But our country's patience is not unlimited. We will defend our allies and our territory."

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

25 online activities    |    26-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson