Koreas, Russia talks on gas pipeline project in November

Working-level officials of the two Koreas and Russia are expected to meet in November to discuss a proposal for the construction of a gas pipeline that would ship Russian natural gas through the Korean Peninsula, the ruling party chief said Tuesday, expressing hope that the joint economic project would help improve soured inter-Korean ties. Rep. Hong Joon-pyo of the Grand National Party (GNP) unveiled the plan after Russia and North Korea last week made progress on a Russian proposal to ship large amounts of Siberian natural gas to the South via a pipeline to be built across the North.