US Sanctions Fail to Impact Moscow, Seoul Energy Sector Coop - Russian Trade Rep

VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik) - Moscow and Seoul are engaged in talks on increasing supplies of the Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to South Korea, Russia's trade representative in Seoul Mikhail Bondarenko said on Tuesday at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok.

"We note with pleasure that cooperation in the energy sphere is developing successfully. The issue of increasing purchases [by South Korea] is being worked on," Bondarenko said at the Russian-South Korean business breakfast.

Also, Moscow believes that the participation of South Korean companies in constructing infrastructure for the Far East ports and developing the Northern Sea Route is promising, Bondarenko added.

Mikhail Bondarenko also said Tuesday that US economic restrictions imposed against Russia have not influenced the bilateral cooperation between Russia and South Korea in the energy sector.

"No, the oil and gas sector was not affected, [the sanctions] are not felt here," Bondarenko said, adding that Korean businesses, however, found it more difficult to conduct financial transactions for their projects with Russia.

The fourth annual EEF kicked off on September 11 in Russia's Far East. The main event of the event will be the plenary session "The Russian Far East: Creating a New Reality" with Russian President Vladimir Putin's participation.

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