Moon to hold summit with Putin

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will hold a summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok next month during a trip to take part in the Eastern Economic Forum, the Korea Herald quoted the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae as saying Tuesday.

The forum, to be held September 6-7, will largely focus on the economic and development potentials of Russia's Far East, and possible a chance for South Korean businesses to explore new business opportunities there.

However, the venue is also expected to provide a crucial opportunity for the new South Korean leader to discuss regional efforts to rein in North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile capabilities, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

"President Moon plans to hold a Korea-Russia summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Park Soo-hyun said in a press release.

Russia, which has maintained close relations with Pyongyang, voiced its opposition against the North's recent long-range missile tests, enabling the unanimous passage of a new U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution late last month.

Still, Moscow, along with the North's communist ally Beijing, are seen reluctant to put what Seoul and its US ally call maximum pressure and sanctions on the North.

Source: MENA