Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow is ready to help calm down tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Axar.az reports citing to PressTv in a 20-minute phone call on Friday, President Putin told his newly elected South Korean counterpart, Moon Jae-in, that the Kremlin was ready to extend aid to Seoul.

The Blue House, South Korea's presidential office, said Putin had expressed Russia's full readiness to play a "constructive role" in resolving the international dispute with North Korea.

Tensions have been mounting in the region over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, which Pyongyang sees as a deterrent against a potential invasion by its adversaries.

Moon, however, is a liberal who advocates a more conciliatory approach to North Korea compared with his conservative predecessor.

In the phone call he expressed hope for North Korea to end its nuclear provocations and go the way of denuclearization.