Obama: Nuclear bomb in NYC is bigger worry than Russia

Russia is a mere “regional power” and a nuclear bomb exploding in New York City is a bigger worry, according to U.S. President Barack Obama.

Amid heightened global tensions over Crimea, Obama played down claims that President Vladimir Putin’s country is America’s greatest foe.

Obama responded to a previous comment made by Mitt Romney, his opponent in the last presidential campaign.

“With respect to Mr. Romney’s assertion that Russia is our No. 1 geopolitical foe, the truth of the matter is that America has got a whole lot of challenges. Russia is a regional power that is threatening some of its immediate neighbors not out of strength, but out of weakness,” Obama told a press conference.

He later said Russia's actions were a problem but didn't pose the top national security threat to the United States.

“I continue to be much more concerned when it comes to our security with the prospect of a nuclear weapon going off in Manhattan,” he said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. said on Tuesday that North Korea’s test firing of two medium-range missiles into the Sea of Japan represents “a troubling and provocative escalation”.

“We urge North Korea to exercise restraint and refrain from further threatening actions,” said spokeswoman Marie Harf in a statement following the missile launch which the U.S. is taking “very seriously.”

(With AP and AFP)