President Moon Jae-in met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin on Friday.<br />Moon was in Russia for a state visit, the first by a South Korean leader in almost two decades.<br />They reaffirmed their ties, as well as their common goal of the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.<br />Our Blue House correspondent Hwang Hojun has the details. President Moon Jae-in and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin emphasized the significance of Seoul and Moscow's bilateral cooperation.<br /><br /> "We already have a common policy direction. That's to improve the lives of our people. We agreed to more actively push for bilateral cooperation in ways that will benefit our respective people."<br /><br /> "The Republic of Korea is a strategic partner of Russia. Our two countries ' relations are under various plans and are based on friendly and friendly relations."<br /><br /> The comments came during a joint press conference, which took place after Presidents Moon and Putin had their summit.<br />It was their third meeting since President Moon took office in May last year.<br /><br /> They reaffirmed the importance of the so-called 'Nine Bridges' plan - a concept which President Moon first introduced at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok last September - which seeks cooperation in gas, rail, electricity, shipbuilding, job creation, the Northern Sea Route, seaports, agriculture, and fishing.<br /><br /> Putin also highly evaluated the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue as well as the recent Pyongyang-Washington Summit in Singapore.<br /><br /> "I hope tensions will ease on the Korean Peninsula through such dialogue and negotiations. I hope a strong safety system in the region will be established"<br /><br /> President Moon said South Korea and Russia share the common goal of the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of permanent peace.<br /> President Moon said South Korea and Russia will reinforce communication and cooperation so the Korean Peninsula and Eurasia can enjoy peace and co-prosperity.<br />He also talked about a potential three-way partnership between Seoul, Moscow, and Pyongyang.<br /><br /> "A joint study on a possible partnership in railways, power networks, and gas pipeline connections would be a start."<br /><br /> According to the Blue House, President Putin invited President Moon to the 2018 Eastern Economic Forum, again to be held in Vladivostok in September.<br />North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has also been invited.<br /> President Moon said he will consider taking part,... and in return, he asked Putin to visit Seoul in reciprocation of his first state visit to the Kremlin.<br />Putin accepted the invitation; the exact date of his trip to be determined.<br />Hwang Hojun, Arirang News. <br />
