|
Russia has decided to write off more than 90 percent of the US$8 billion it is owed by North Korea, Russian government officials said on the condition of anonymity Monday. That is more than the 80 percent initially agreed in bilateral negotiations between Moscow and Pyongyang in the Russian capital in December.
According to sources, Russian chief negotiator to the six-party nuclear talks Alexander Loshukov told his South Korean counterpart Chun Young-woo about the debt write-off plan when Chun was in Moscow on Feb. 1. At the time, the Russian vice foreign minister explained that Russia had reached an agreement with North Korea already and the debt write-off could be used as leverage when the six-party attempts to end North Korea¡¯s nuclear program in return for energy aid hit a snag. Some observers speculate that Russia¡¯s greater debt write-off is motivated by a desire to reduce its share in paying for the energy aid.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
