Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
| President Park Geun-hye and Russian President Vladimir Putin greet one other as Chinese President Xi Jinping looks on ahead of a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Thursday. / Yonhap |
By Kim Hyo-jin
President Park Geun-hye had a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin about relations on the Korean Peninsula during a banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Wednesday, her aides said Thursday.
"Park and Putin sat next to each other at the banquet and exchanged opinions on bilateral relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula," a Cheong Wa Dae official said.
They also stood next to each other to observe a massive military parade in Tiananmen Square, Thursday.
Park and Putin are among foreign guests invited to celebrations in Beijing of China's part in the victory over Japan in World War II.
The two leaders exchanged opinions on bilateral issues during the welcoming banquet, which lasted about 80 minutes.
The details of their conversation were not released, but the leaders are believed to have exchanged thoughts on North Korea-related issues.
Park expressed hopes that Moscow will help Seoul to ease tensions between North and South Korea, sources said. She also asked Putin to exert influence on the repressive regime to get it to refrain from further provocations.
It is also highly likely that Park called for Moscow's cooperation in denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.
Park had a first bilateral summit with Putin in Moscow in September 2013 when she visited there to attend a G20 summit. The second summit came two months later when Putin paid an official visit to Seoul.
Park has sought Moscow's cooperation on reconnecting South Korea's railways to Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway through North Korea. The plan, part of her "Eurasia Initiative," was discussed with Putin during the summits.
North Korea has shifted its diplomatic focus to Russia for the past two years while its relations with China, the North's traditional ally, have deteriorated. Earlier this year, Russia and North Korea announced they will deepen economic and political ties under the theme of a "Year of Friendship."
Park's meeting with the Chinese and Russian leaders could put heavy pressure on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, analysts say.
"For Kim, who is seeking to break diplomatic isolation, South Korea's leader having a dialogue with them could be a shocking scene," said Chon Hyun-joon, head of the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Institute.
Kim has not met with Xi or Putin since he took power in 2011.
