Putin says Russia, North Korea discuss railway connection

VLADIVOSTOK, Apr 25 (PRIME) -- President Vladimir Putin discussed a railway link between the North and South Koreas and their connection to the Russian road during negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, he said.

“This is not the first year we are talking about this. That would mean a direct link between the south of the Korean Peninsula and the north with access to the Trans–Siberian Railway (Transsib), the possibility to launch pipeline transport and we might speak about oil and gas,” Putin said.

Putin said that South Korea may be interested in the project as well. “But there is a lack of sovereignty when taking final decisions. There are obligations to the ally when the Republic of Korea makes decisions, including to the U.S., so everything stops at a certain moment.”

The railways of the North and South Korea have been recently united, and Russia will be patient with their connection to Transsib, Putin said.

He said he had also discussed construction of electric power grids and a pipeline system with Kim Jong-un.

Pyongyang and Seoul need to improve the relations and denuclearize the entire peninsula in order to resume the power of international law and abandon the “might makes right” principle, Putin said.

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