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Russia interested in gradual unification of Korean nation — lawmaker

"We are in favor of a political and diplomatic solution to the Korean problem," speaker of Russian State Duma said

A rally to call for unity between two Koreas, in Seoul (archive) AP Photo/Lee Jin-man

A rally to call for unity between two Koreas, in Seoul (archive)

© AP Photo/Lee Jin-man

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SEOUL, May 19. /TASS/. Moscow is interested in boosting confidence on the Korean Peninsula and the gradual unification of the Korean nation, speaker of State Duma Sergey Naryshkin said on Tuesday. Naryshkin is currently on an official visit to Seoul.

"Russia is interested in strengthening peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, building confidence with a view of gradually moving towards the unification of the Korean nation," the chairman of the lower house of the Russian parliament told a round-table meeting dedicated to the historical and cultural aspects of the Russian-Korean relations.

Naryshkin noted that Russia assumed a balanced position on the issue of the two Koreas’ unification. "We are in favor of a political and diplomatic solution to the Korean problem," he said.

On the other hand, Naryshkin said that Russia was totally opposed to Moscow exerting pressure, together with one of the two parts of the Korean Peninsula, on its another part. "We adhere to the balance of interests here and are determined, in tandem with our Korean partners, both in the north and in the south, to build policy in such a way so as to gradually move towards the unification of the Korean nation," the State Duma chairman said.

He added that Moscow would do everything possible to facilitate "the gradual movement towards the unification of the Korean nation" and sees good prospects in this process.

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