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SEOUL -- President Obama conceded Friday that sanctions on Russia may not force President Vladimir Putin to alter his decisions on Ukraine, but he then offered a spirited defense of how they might still influence a leader he said is not a stupid man.

Putin surely realizes that sanctions have hurt the Russian economy, Obama said, and knows there is much more pain ahead if he doesnt live up to his pledge to ease tensions in Ukraine, where Russian-speaking people in the eastern regions continue to challenge Kievs authority.

President Putin is not a stupid man," Obama said. Is he willing to see the Russian economy ... weakened further because he is unwilling to deal with Ukraine in a diplomatic fashion that respects their sovereignty?

Despite signs of Russias role in the ongoing turmoil in Ukraine, Obama said, the international community shouldnt make the choice easy for him.

The remarks, delivered during a news conference here, reflect Obamas belief that Putin is a rational leader who will curb his behavior if it makes sense for him to do so.

But as the days telephone diplomacy revealed, raising the stakes for Russia will be no light matter for Obama and European allies. Germany and Italy are particularly concerned about the potential impact on their own economies if they expand the sanctions already in place.

Although Obamas weeklong trip to Asia is aimed in part at conveying the theme of U.S. military readiness in the region, his explicit message throughout has been about using diplomatic tools to respond to threats from Russia, China and North Korea.

In talks with Japanese and South Korean leaders, Obama counseled a policy of peaceful conversation about territorial disputes. In the wake of news that Israel will pull out of U.S.-brokered peace talks with the Palestinians, Obama said he isnt yet ready to throw in the towel.

In Seoul, the concern about the nuclear threat is urgent, given the volatility of the North Korean regime and its spring season of missile testing.

After a series of meetings with Obama on Friday, South Korean President Park Geun-hye told reporters she was confident of the U.S. commitment to deterrence. For his part, in the joint news conference that followed their private session, Obama emphasized the power of sanctions.

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Obama counsels diplomacy in dealing with Russia, China, North Korea