Russian foreign minister to visit two Koreas this week

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with Russia's announcement)
SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov plans to visit
South and North Korea later this week to discuss geopolitical issues and
bilateral ties, Moscow's foreign ministry announced Tuesday.
In a separate statement, the South Korean government said Lavrov will hold
"in-depth" talks Friday with his South Korean counterpart on the North Korean
nuclear problem and ways to improve Seoul-Moscow relations.
"Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit South Korea April 24-25 at the
invitation of (South Korean) Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan," the ministry said.
Lavrov is also due to pay a courtesy call on South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak.
The Russian ministry said Lavrov is scheduled to travel to Pyongyang April 23-24
before flying to Seoul.
"The development of bilateral relations with the two Korean states, the
situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, and topical
international problems of mutual concern are expected to be discussed at talks
in Pyongyang and Seoul," the ministry said in a statement.
It gave no other details, including whether Lavrov will meet Kim Jong-il, the
leader of North Korea, during his two-day stay.
The Russian minister traveled to Seoul in 2007 to attend the Asia Cooperation
Dialogue meeting. In 2004, he went to North Korea after visiting the South.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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