Lavrov hopes to strengthen friendship with Korea

Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, said that he hoped to strengthen friendship between Russia and the Korean states.

According to the Foreign Ministry's information department, Mr. Lavrov mentioned his hope in a congratulatory telegram to Pak Ki-mun, South Korea's foreign minister, and Paek Nam-sun, North Korea's foreign minister, on the 120th anniversary of the signing of a friendship and trade treaty between Russia and Korea.

In the telegram, Mr. Lavrov also said that he hoped for fruitful and mutually advantageous cooperation between Russia and the Korean states that is based on the old tradition of good neighborliness.

Mr. Lavrov visited South Korea and North Korea form July 3 to 5 and met with both states' foreign ministers.