SEOUL, November 13, 13:42 /ITAR-TASS/. South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye said that the Republic of Korea refuses to recognize North Korea as a nuclear power. After the Russia-South Korean talks, Park Geun-hye emphasized that the country’s stance is necessary to uphold peace on the Korean Peninsula and the outlying region.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin expressed his understanding: “We have a common goal with the Republic of Korea here: ensure stability and security for all states in the region, secure a nuclear-free status of the Korean Peninsula.” “We can resolve this issue only through diplomacy during six-party talks. We call for their soonest resumption,” Putin concluded after the talks with the South Korean counterpart.

 

Joint statement on North Korea

Russia and the Republic of Korea confirm non-acceptance to North Korea’s policy towards recognising it as nuclear weapons state, according to a joint statement made after the Russian-Korean talks on Wednesday.

North Korea should comply with international obligations in the field of denuclearisation, including the U.N. Security Council corresponding requirements, the statement says.

The parties agreed to exert effort to create conditions for resuming the six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear programme, the statement says.

Russia's and Korea's presidents also discussed other issues.

 

Visa regime and cooperation

Russia and South Korea signed an agreement on mutual cancellation of visa requirements, as well as an agreement to establish cultural centres and set the conditions for their activity.

The negotiators also inked a memorandum on cooperation in transport, a memorandum on mutual understanding between the Federal Tourism Agency and the specific South Korean ministry to organize the Years of mutual visits between Russia and South Korea in 2014-2015.

The agreement on mutual cancellation of visa requirements will contribute “to further broadening of ties between the peoples of Russia and South Korea,” Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.

 

Syria’s joining of CPCW

According to a joint statement,  Russia and South Korea laud Syria’s joining of the Convention for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons,

“The parties praised the Russian-American framework agreements on the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria and lauded the country’s joining of the CPCW and its accession to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons,” the statement says.

The presidents of both countries called for settling the crisis in Syria as soon as possible. They called for convening the Geneva II Peace Conference in order to launch negotiations between the Syrian parties.