Putin's visit to Seoul aborted

Vladimir Putin's visit to Seoul has been aborted, even though the government promoted his Korean trip on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of Seoul-Moscow diplomatic relations, it was learned Monday. The related government officials said that the government has contacted the Russian president on several occasions regarding his Seoul visit since President Kim extended his invitation for Putin to visit Korea, but a visit within the year appears to be physically impossible, they added.

The officials also said that the government is consulting with Moscow over a plan for the Russian leader to visit here prior to the Seoul visit by North Korean Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-Il, slated for around next March.

In this regard, it is expected that Prime Minister Lee Han-Dong and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Kashinov will discuss Putin's Seoul trip when they hold premiers' talks slated for Oct. 10 in Moscow.