South Korean Foreign Minister (FM) Chung Eui-yong met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday. The two decided to urgently resume the stalled talks on North Korea and resolve the Peninsula’s nuclear issue.
Chung told reporters during a joint press conference after the meeting that the two leaders had exchanged opinions on different avenues for cooperation to revive talks with Pyongyang as soon as possible, with both sides stressing the necessity of stability on the Korean Peninsula.
“The two countries shared the view on the urgency of resolving North Korea’s nuclear problem and agreed to closely communicate and cooperate at each level for an early resumption of the Korean peninsula peace process,” Chung said.
Russian FM Lavrov also echoed the stance and emphasised the urgent need to seek a “diplomatic solution” in dealing with the situation on the peninsula. “We believe that a diplomatic solution should be possible and talks should be resumed by all parties concerned,” he said.
“We emphasised the need for all the parties involved to resume negotiations. It is important to understand that efforts to find a mutually acceptable and lasting solution must cover all the problems the Korean Peninsula faces in their complexity. We noted that it is particularly important for all the interested parties to renounce actions that may increase tension,” a press release by Russian’s Foreign Ministry quoted the diplomat as saying.
“We should understand that the search for a long-term comprehensive solution should cover the whole range of issues of the Korean peninsula, and we need to ensure no factors intervene (to) increase tensions,” he added.
The ministers also participated in an event celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.
Russia was originally a member of the now-defunct six-party talks that aimed to denuclearise the Korean peninsula. Members included China, Japan, the United States, and South and North Korea. The talks failed after members were unable to trust the intentions of one another.
Seoul believes that Moscow, which has diplomatic ties with Pyongyang and is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, could exercise some degree of influence over the secretive regime and prevent it from indulging in provocative activities and urge it to return to nuclear talks.
This is Lavrov and Chung’s second meeting this year. The top diplomats also met in Seoul in March, when they took part in the inauguration ceremony of the “2020-2021 Year of Mutual Exchange between Republic of Korea and Russian Federation.”
South Korea and Russia Agree to Urgently Resolve North Korea Nuclear Issue
The ministers also participated in an event celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their countries’ diplomatic relations.
October 29, 2021
South Korean President Moon Jae-in with Russian President Vladimir Putin. SOURCE: ORF