Russia, S Korea pipeline

The presidents of South Korea and Russia have agreed to build a natural gas pipeline between the two countries via North Korea.

Lee Myung-bak met with Dmitry Medvedev in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday.

Officials of the two governments said the leaders confirmed that South Korea would join a plan to build a natural gas pipeline from the Russian Far East to South Korea via North Korea. The project was agreed upon by Medevedev and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il at a summit in August.

Alexey Miller, the president of Russia's state-backed gas company Gazprom, told reporters later that the company is aiming to start sending natural gas through the pipeline to South Korea by 2017.

In their talks, the two also agreed to cooperate in resuming the stalled six-party talks on ending the North's nuclear program. The talks have been suspended since December of 2008.

Russia is apparently demonstrating its close relations with both Koreas.

Thursday, November 03, 2011 12:14 +0900 (JST)