Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanovon Tuesday met with his counterpart from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Paek Nam-sun on inter-Korea dialogues, bilateral cooperation and international strategic stability.
Ivanov told Paek at the start of their meeting that Russia "attaches exceptional significance" to its partnership with the DPRK.
"Our relations have developed dynamically" in the past two years since Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a ground--breaking visit to DPRK, he said,
Ivanov then invited Paek to discuss "the entire range of issuesregarding bilateral cooperation and international problems."
According to a Foreign Ministry statement circulated after the closed-door meeting, the two ministers said their countries are ready to fight international terrorism in accordance with U.N. declarations and solve international problems through diplomacy.
The talks also focused on relations between the two sides of the Korean Peninsula, and Russia welcomed a planned visit by a U.S.envoy to DPRK to discuss the issue, the statement said.
It noted that Russia was ready to assist any steps promoting contacts between the DPRK and South Korea.
"It was deemed vital for all states with an interest in a Korean settlement to work for the creation of favorable conditionsfor dialogue," reads the statement.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov on Monday defended against the US claims that the DPRK was part of an "axis of evil" -- countries Washington accused of seeking weapons of mass destruction.
Meanwhile he said Russia was ready to help promote the dialogues between Pyongyang and Washington. "Resumption of the talks between Pyongyang and Washington would be very important forthe settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue.
He did not rule out the situation on the Korean Peninsula couldbe put on the agenda of Friday's Russian-US summit in Moscow.
However, Moscow officials have repeatedly stressed that Paek's visit was in no way timed to coincide with Thursday's arrival of U.S. President George W. Bush.
On a business note, Ivanov and Paek also discussed a plan to extend the Trans-Siberian Railroad across the Koreas.
If implemented, the project would give South Korea's export-driven economy a rail link to Europe, which would be shorter and less expensive than the current sea route. For DPRK and Russia, itwould yield revenues from transit fees.
Paek arrived in Moscow Monday for a four-day visit, the first Russian trip by a DPRK foreign minister in the past 15 year.
Interfax quoted diplomatic sources as saying that he was also expected to deliver a private note from DPRK leader Kim Jong-il toRussian leadership. Paek also invited his Russian counterpart to visit DPRK, and the invitation was accepted, the statement said.
The past two years have seen a flurry of contacts between Russia and DPRK. Last year, Kim Jong Il took a 24-day train trip across Russia.
(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2002)
