By AHN News Staff

Ulan-Ude, Russian Federation

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has won a rare pledge from North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il.

While on a state visit, Kim said North Korea was ready to abandon nuclear testing and allow a gas pipeline through its territory.

The pledge came during his first visit to the giant neighbor since 2002. Talking to reporters following the meeting, Medvedev expressed satisfaction with the result, while Kim remained silent to reporters' questions. "I am full of positive feelings. The meeting was substantive and open," Medvedev said.

He added that Pyongyang also agreed to give passage to Russian gas supplies to arch-rival South Korea. If what North is saying becomes a reality, Russia will be able to reach new energy-hungry markets in Asia. Medvedev further said that the proposed pipeline could be as long as 1,700 kilometers and it could start with volumes of up to 10 billion cubic meters annually.

"The deal would concern the transit of gas across the territory of North Korea and accordingly the addition to this project of the Republic of Korea, considering that the main consumers are on its territory," Medvedev said.

The Russian leader also said that Pyongyang is keen on suspending its nuclear testing and processing if six-party negotiations resume. "Without preconditions, in the course of the negotiations, the North Koreans will be ready to solve the issue of introducing a moratorium on testing and spent nuclear fuel processing," said Kremlin spokeswoman Natalya Timakova.

North Korea has already urged an early resumption of talks without preconditions - a call rejected by neighboring South Korea which wants it to first suspend its atomic activities.

 

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World - North Korea's Rare Pledge to Abandon Nuclear Activities | Global Viewpoint