G20 Summit Park, Putin agree firm stance against North Korea nuke threat
By Kang Seung-woo
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia -- President Park Geun-hye and her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their stance against North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, Saturday, agreeing to further enhance strategic communication to resolve the issue.
The two heads of state held a bilateral summit in the far eastern Russian city on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).
“North Korea has threatened to carry out additional nuclear tests and launch a preemptive nuclear strike while advancing its nuclear capabilities. For South Korea which lies within minutes’ distance of North Korea's possible strikes, it is a matter of life or death,” she said in a joint press conference following her fourth summit talks with Putin.
Putin also said, “We had in-depth discussions about the current situation on the Korean Peninsula and reached an agreement that the two nations do not tolerate the North’s self-proclaimed nuclear power.”
Seoul, Moscow to speed up efforts for Korea-EAEU FTA
At the same time, the two leaders agreed to accelerate their efforts for the free trade agreement (FTA) between Korea and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
In addition, the two nations signed 24 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) as part of expanding their bilateral economic ties.
Korea and the EAEU, comprised of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, have conducted a joint feasibility study of their free trade pact over the past nine months, which is expected to contribute to achieving shared economic growth and promoting consumer benefits.
“The two heads of state agreed to conclude the joint study as soon as possible and take follow-up measures for the FTA,” said, Kang Seog-hoon, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs, in a briefing.
While giving a speech to a gathering of Korean and Russian business leaders ahead of the summit, Park also voiced hope for the bilateral FTA, underscoring that the deal would open a "new chapter" in bilateral economic cooperation.
Seoul-Moscow economic ties have rested on cooperation in manufacturing and in energy resources, but on the occasion of Park's first visit to Russia, the two sides agreed to expand the scope of bilateral economic cooperation into more diverse fields in the Far East, including fisheries, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare and medical services, according to the presidential office.
“So far, Korean companies have conducted business in western, or European, Russia but the MOUs are expected to pave the way for their presence in Eurasia, including the Far East,” Kang said.
Russia has great interest in developing the Far East that has yet to be economically developed despite its vast resources and huge economic potential. Putin’s New Eastern Policy that is interconnected with Park’s Eurasia Initiative seeks to connect transport and energy infrastructure from Asia through Russia into Europe.