Putin and Kim Chong-il's meeting finished

The official meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Chong-il,Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korean, in Vladivostokis over. During the meeting Putin confirmed that Russia is interested incooperation between South Korea and North Korea and pointed to a positivedynamics of development of the Russian-North Korean relations. The tradevolume between the two countries has increased by 10 percent since theprevious meeting of the two leaders last year. Some 70 percent of the tradeturnover is the North Korean trade with the Russian Far East. Putinstressed that Russia would promote the process of further settlement ofrelations between South Korea and North Korea, in which Russia "issincerely interested". The parties also discussed a broad range ofquestions concerning the cooperation between the two countries,international affairs and the possibility of implementing the project onconstructing the Transkorean railway and connecting it to the Transsiberianrailway.Kim Chong-il noted he was satisfied with his visit to Russia. After themeeting the parties are expected to have dinner. .