Moon, Russian PM agree to strengthen cooperation on N. Korea, economy

MANILA, Nov. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in held talks with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev Tuesday and agreed to further develop their countries' economic cooperation and step up efforts to peacefully denuclearize North Korea. They met on the sidelines of a regional forum hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Manila. "I believe our countries holding such close consultations between their highest officials clearly shows that cooperation between the two countries is developing at a fast rate," Moon told the Russian prime minister, according to pool reports. Tuesday's meeting came about two months after the South Korean leader held a bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia. Medvedev welcomed what he called recent progress in Seoul-Moscow relations. He apparently underscored the importance of their ties, saying his country had as much at stake as South Korea in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula. bdk@yna.co.kr (END)