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Moscow promotes dialogue between North, South Korea — senator

Russia will do its best to promote peaceful dialogue between North and South Korea, an MP says

MOSCOW, August 14. /TASS/. Russia will do its best to promote peaceful dialogue between North and South Korea, hoping that it would become more positive and irreversible, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee for Foreign Affairs Sergei Kislyak stated on Thursday, during the meeting with Chairman of the South Korean Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the National Assembly [Korean Parliament] Kang Seokho.

"We do not have a shared border with the Korean republic, but we have a common neighbor, which remains a focus of political discussions concerning the security in the region," he said. "We understand how important it is for your country, but it is no less important for our country as well, because we would like there to be a peaceful, stable and predictable environment around Russian borders."

"That is why we follow closely and, when possible, promote development of the dialogue between North Korea and your country, between the Americans and North Korea," the senator assured. According to Kislyak, Moscow hopes that this dialogue will be "of a positive and, most importantly, irreversible nature."

Kang Seokho said South Korean MPs give great value to developing contacts with Russia at the top level. They also support implementation of the agreements reached at the June summit in Moscow.

"Recently (on June 22 in Moscow - TASS), our presidents have held a summit, it is necessary to implement the agreements reached in its course," Kang Seokho said. "Maintaining [dialogue] and constant attention of MPs is very important to us." "We also know that Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko is planning to visit Seoul in fall. We expect that it will help strengthen parliamentary relations," he added, inviting Kislyak to visit the republic.

The MP also talked about a meeting with Head of Russia's State Duma [lower house of parliament] Foreign Affairs Committee Leonid Slutsky. "We have discussed the issues of economic cooperation," he noted. "Two weeks ago, we met in Seoul to discuss holding a session between parliamentary speakers from Eurasian countries."

"I also hope for a useful exchange of opinions on the situation on the Korean peninsula," the head of the foreign affairs committee said.

Presidents of Russia and South Korea Vladimir Putin and Moon Jae-in have adopted a joint statement on the outcomes of the summit in Moscow, in which they expressed their commitment to developing mutually beneficial relations in order to unleash the potential of bilateral relations in the spirit of strategic partnership. Moreover, the leaders agreed to increase supply of Russian gas and to develop oil deposits in a joint way.

The parties also discussed the regulation on the Korean peninsula. Putin invited his colleague to the Eastern Economic Forum, which will take place in September in Vladivostok.