Anchor: Ahead of his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in stressed the importance of three-way economic ties among the two Koreas and Russia. The president revealed his vision on Thursday, when he became the first ever South Korean president to address Russia's State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament.
Kim Bum-soo has more. 

Report:
 
[Sound bite: President Moon Jae-in (Korean)]
"The New Northern Policy announced at the Eastern Economic Forum is Korean people's dream in response to the New East Policy." 

President Moon Jae-in presented a blue print to some 400 Russian lawmakers, linking Russian President Vladimir Putin's "New East Policy" and his "New Northern Policy."

In the 20-minute speech at the lower house of the Russian parliament on Thursday, Moon called for jointly exploring the economic potential of the Eurasian connection.

[Sound bite: President Moon Jae-in (Korean)]
"When the peace regime is established on the Korean Peninsula, inter-Korean economic cooperation will start in earnest and it will expand to three-way cooperation with Russia. Joint research and basic discussions have been in progress over the three-way economic cooperation on the areas of rail, gas pipelines and electricity networks." 

Previous governments in Seoul and Moscow had been in talks to connect the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Trans-Korean Railway. The two sides have also long envisioned establishing a gas pipeline from Russia’s Far East to South Korea through the severed link of North Korea. 

[Sound bite: President Moon Jae-in (Korean)]
"The Trans-Siberian Railway has been operating for one-hundred years and is more than just the center of ground transportation as the symbol and groundwork for constructing the Eurasian community. Korea hopes that the Trans-Siberian Railway will now reach Busan on the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula by establishing permanent peace in the area."   

Moon's trip to Moscow marks the first state visit to Russia by a South Korean president in 19 years. 

On his second day in Russia, Moon will hold his third summit with Putin and try to forge a common vision for joint economic projects, which will first require resolving North Korea issues. 

On Saturday, he will travel to southwestern city of Rostov-on-Don, where he will watch South Korea’s World Cup match against Mexico. 
Kim Bum-soo, KBS World Radio News.