Seoul and Moscow agreed to launch a joint feasibility study on building a pipeline that will transport natural gas all the way from Siberia to Korea and other countries in the region.

But first energy officials from the two sides need to find out whether it is technically and economically feasible to pipe the gas overland -- most likely through North Korea -- the Commerce, Industry and Energy Ministry said on Wednesday.

The state-run Korea Gas Corporation which is handling the feasibility study will later decide on when and how much Russian gas Korea will buy.

Their findings will give Korea a clearer idea of the pipeline's route and lay the groundwork for an eventual contract that will outline the terms and conditions for its construction.

At a meeting in Moscow this week on natural resources cooperation Russian energy officials briefed their visiting Korean counterparts on the planned pipeline running from Novosibirsk to Khabarovsk.

On top of joint gas exploration Korea and Russia also agreed to drill exploratory oil wells on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East next year.

Arirang News