Putin arrives in Seoul tonight; meeting with Kim, HC Lee slated

Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in Seoul Monday, a day earlier than originally scheduled, said Korean presidential spokesman Park Joon-Young on Sunday. During the Russian president`s three-day stay in Korea, he is to meet with President Kim Dae-Jung as well as with Grand National Party (GNP) leader Lee Hoi-Chang and other top officials. Putin`s state visit, which was set to begin early Tuesday morning, was moved up to Monday night at 10, thus adding an extra day to what had been planned as a two-day trip, according to Park. The spokesman said the longer visit apparently reflects the importance Putin places on his meetings with Korean officials.

Park said the Russian leader is to meet with the Korean opposition leader on Wednesday. The meeting, which was requested by the GNP, was arranged by the Seoul government in consultation with Moscow, Park added. The summit meeting between Kim and Putin and expanded top-level discussions between officials of the two countries will focus on pending issues. Putin`s meeting with Lee will follow the former`s address to the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Kim and Putin will review the progress of Seoul-Moscow ties since they were normalized in 1990, and explore their future evolution. The two leaders will exchange opinions on the development of inter-Korean detente and overall conditions on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia. Coming as it does on the eve of North Korean strongman Kim Jong-Il`s visit to Russia in April and prior to his expected trip to Seoul soon after, Putin`s talks with Kim are expected to have a positive impact on inter-Korean rapprochement efforts.

Yun Seung-Mo ysmo@donga.com