Russia calls U.S. threat against N.Korea a 'bloodthirsty tirade' - TASS

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday called comments on North Korea from U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley "a bloodthirsty tirade" and said using force against Pyongyang would be a big mistake, the TASS news agency reported.

Haley earlier this week warned North Korea's leadership it would be "utterly destroyed" if war were to break out after Pyongyang test fired its most advanced missile, putting the U.S. mainland within range, in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

TASS cited Lavrov as saying using force against North Korea would be "playing with fire" and "a big mistake" and that Moscow would do everything it could to avoid such a scenario.