Putin to visit Seoul in February

Russian president Vladimir Putin will visit Seoul toward the end of February, it was learned Friday.

An official of the Korean Embassy in Moscow said that the governments of Korea and Russia have agreed, in principle, on the timing of Putin¡¯s trip to Seoul and they are now discussing the detailed itinerary.

He said that a concrete timetable would be announced shortly before Putin's visit to South Korea in accordance with the agreement with Russia.

A Russian diplomatic official also indicated that a visit by Putin to Seoul had been decided on, saying that the biggest issue between the two countries could be settled by the end of next month. He did not elaborate on what the issue is.

In their summit meeting, presidents Kim Dae-Jung and Putin are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, including inter-Korean relations, Southeast Asian regional security, bilateral economic cooperation, Russia¡¯s repayment of loans from Korea and the connection of the Trans Siberian Railroad to the railways of South and North Korea.

Prior to Putin¡¯s visit here, the two countries will hold working-level talks of the Korea-Russia Joint Economic Committee and Industrial Cooperation Committee in Seoul, government sources said.

Putin¡¯s trip to South Korea will be the first by the top Russian leader since then president Boris Yeltsin visited here in November 1992.

Putin visited North Korea in July last year, but has been postponing his visit to South Korea, giving rise to a speculation that there may be something wrong in the relations between Russia and South Korea.