South Korean President Elect to Send Envoys to Russia and China

President-elect of South Korea Roh Moo-hyun is set to send special envoys to Russia and China to assist the peaceful settlement of the nuclear crisis in the Korean peninsula.

This information initially came from unofficial sources in the South Korean media. However, it was confirmed on Monday for RIA Novosti over the telephone by a spokesman from the future administration's personnel committee in the department of foreign policy, national re-unification and security.

At the same time, the Ryon Hap agency reported that deputies Choi sung-hong and Lee Hwe-chang, from the ruling Millennium Democratic Party in the National Assembly, could be sent to Russia. They are considered to be authoritative figures in foreign policy matters.

Roh Moo-hyun has outlined three principles to resolve the current problems in the Korean peninsula: to refuse to recognise North Korea's nuclear programmes, settle the situation through peaceful means and maintain Seoul's leading role in the issue.