Putin: Russia considering amending nuclear doctrine

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that his country is considering possible changes to its doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons.

Putin was speaking to reporters about the change in nuclear doctrine at the end of a visit to Vietnam.

He spoke the day after visiting North Korea, which also has nuclear weapons, where he held a summit with its leader Kim Jong Un.

The current doctrine states that Russia may use such weapons in response to a nuclear attack or in the event of a conventional attack that poses an existential threat to the country, meaning that such lethal weapons would be used defensively.

Putin said that Russia "does not need to carry out a preemptive nuclear strike."