“There shouldn’t be an explosion!”

Mikhail Fradkov wants to “tie” North Korea economically

The visit of the Russian prime minister to South Korea, which has not happened for 14 years, certainly did not turn out to be a success for the leadership of this country (due to the nuclear threat looming from the north). Mikhail Fradkov was immediately puzzled by a “burning question,” suspecting that Russia was more enlightened than other countries regarding the plans of the northerners. However, Mr. Fradkov did not reveal any special secrets, at least not publicly. He stated that the DPRK did not warn Russia about conducting nuclear tests (October 9 - Ed .). “We received the information from our technical means,” explained the Russian prime minister. “I hope there won’t be a second explosion.” Holding it would complicate the situation.” “And there shouldn’t be an explosion!” - Mr. Fradkov referred to the “signal” of the UN Security Council.

“We are interested in the DPRK returning to the six-party talks and the non-proliferation regime,” the Russian prime minister concluded. The host of the meeting, South Korean Prime Minister Han Myung-suk, was sympathetic to Russia’s position regarding North Korea’s nuclear tests. And on her own behalf she only added that her country “wants to achieve a nuclear-free status of the Korean Peninsula and firm implementation of the UN Security Council resolution.”

But Russia’s peaceful initiatives to involve the DPRK in economic integration processes are so far in Seoul, apparently, regarded with slight skepticism. Mr. Fradkov even proposed several options for “strengthening economic ties”: connecting the Trans-Siberian and Trans-Korean railways, the Far East-Korea energy bridge, peaceful space exploration... He is convinced that the North Koreans should be given a chance to find a way out of the impasse. However, even members of the Russian delegation are well aware that the most profitable business projects, such as connecting the energy systems of Russia, South and North Korea, are too politically burdened. Not to mention South Korean diplomats.

As for the bilateral interests of Moscow and Seoul, everything is more or less moving forward. Trade turnover over the past five years, according to Mr. Fradkov, has grown 2.6 times and since the beginning of 2006 has already amounted to $9 billion. True, exports from Korea to Russia are growing much faster than ours. And in its structure the share of machines and technologies is 80%. Russia remains a supplier of raw materials. The Koreans do not hide their desire to enter our energy market: to take part in the development of oil and gas fields in Eastern Siberia and Sakhalin. In addition, they are committed to signing a long-term contract between their company Kogas and Gazprom starting in 2007.

Of the representatives of business circles, only the heads of Gazprom Alexey Miller and RAO Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin were present in the Russian delegation. Other representatives of domestic business did not show activity in the Korean direction. And therefore, the Prime Minister decided not to hold a meeting with “business circles” that has already become traditional during foreign visits. For unclear interests.

Mikhail Fradkov tried to calm down the South Korean Prime Minister, Ms. Han Myung-suk, who was upset by the news from the North

Vera Kuznetsova