Foreign Minister Going to the Kremlin

Lee Jung-bin, the South Korean minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is slated for a visit to Russia starting June 28 where he will hold talks with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Igor Sergeyevich.

The meeting is the first minister-level meeting between the two nations since the inauguration of Vladimir Putin as head of the Russian government. Lee will mostly discuss the South-North summit and ask for Russia's continuing aid and support in the matter.

The two ministers will also likely discuss Putin's state visit to both Korean capitals; Putin will go to Pyongyang this July and to Seoul sometime this fall.

Before arriving in Russia, Lee Jung-bin will make a stopover in Warsaw, Poland to attend an international conference on 'democracy' June 26 and 27. Lee will give a brief talk on the Korean search for democracy and the consequences of the Pyongyang Summit.

The conference will discuss achievements in demmocracy, and ways to foster international cooperation and support in order to build democracy. Foreign ministers and high-level officials from some 100 nations will be in attendance.

by Lee Chol-hui