BY THOMAS GAO
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-il might be using a gas pipeline as leverage in nuclear negotiations.
In a rare summit -- the North Korean leader and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed on a gas pipeline to move gas from Russia to South Korea through North Korea. (The Telegraph)
South Korean newspaper Joongang Daily quotes Mr. Medvedev as saying –
“As for gas cooperation, we have results, We’ve ordered our government bodies to establish a special commission ... to outline the details of bilateral cooperation on gas transit through the territory of North Korea and the joining of South Korea to the project.”
In 2009 a project to pump Russian gas to South Korea through a North Korean pipeline was suspended due to the deterioration of inter-Korean relations. Seoul would not build the pipeline through North Korea until Pyongyang officially asked the South to do so.
At the time Russia’s RIA Novosti reported –
“With plans for the pipeline now on hold, Seoul has proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports to the country from Vladivostok by ship.”
With the pipeline agreement -- North Korea's Kim made a rare pledge to abandon nuclear activities. (NHK)
The Telegraph reports – that pledge means nuclear disarmament talks could resume.
“The last substantial round of talks with Pyongyang collapsed after the US accused North Korea of reneging on its commitments to decommission its nuclear facilities...”
And Financial Times notes - The core purpose of Kim’s trip to Russia is to seek allies.
A former Russian ambassador tells FT –
“They want to show they have countries to talk to and that they are realistic ... They need a respite from the tensions.”
FT reports, no progress was made on the resumption of six-party talks, and Mr Kim repeated his call for the resumption of talks “without preconditions.” Washington, Seoul and Tokyo argue North Korea must show concrete signs of willingness to dismantle its atomic program before talks resume.
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