Russia President Sure Of Pyongyang's Desire To Become Integrated Into International Relations System

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed conviction that there is a sincere desire of the leadership of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to develop its nation and, with due account for its historian and political specifics, to integrate it into the system of international relations. Such is the gist of the Russian president's answer to a question put by a participant in the business summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation organisation. Putin emphasized that it is crucial for Russia that Moscow extends backing for the traditional relations of cooperation with Pyongyang. "The DPRK is our neighbour and Russia is inhabited by a large number of ethnic Koreans", he said. Vladimir Putin hopes that Russia will be able "to contribute as much as it can to the cause of inter-Korean settlement". It is in the interest of both North and South Koreas, noted the Russian head of state. Both the leaders of these two countries, said Putin, have repeatedly spoken up their desire to promote relations between them. Russia can suggest a "set of proposals" for developing these relations. It has met with positive reaction from the leaders of these nations and other countries, Vladimir Putin summed up.