South Korean Cooperation With US, China to 'Benefit Moscow-Seoul Ties'

Friendly relations between South Korea, China and the United States will create more opportunities for Seoul’s cooperation with Moscow, South Korea’s Ambassador to Russia Park Ro-byug told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Korean ambassador stressed that US-China relations were "not a zero-sum game but a synergistic interaction" that could help to resolve global issues.

"South Korea, US and China agree that they need to solve the North Korean nuclear issue to bring stability and prosperity to Northeast Asia," Park said. "South Korean-US-Chinese cooperation also benefits relations between the Republic of Korea and Russia," he added.

Washington and Seoul have a history of economic and security cooperation that has been strengthened in spite of regional tensions, as US expresses concern about China’s growing military power and territorial claims.

South Korea plans to enhance regional economic integration between Asian and Pacific Rim countries after successful talks with Northeast Asia neighbors, the ambassador said.

South Korea has been encouraged by a successful economic summit with Chinese and Japanese leaders on November 1, the first in three years. It came after Seoul struck a tentative trade deal with Beijing in June.

"After the South Korea-China free trade pact, the Republic of Korea will speed up talks on economic integration in Northeast Asia, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and actively consider participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)," Park said.