Rusian Trains to Korea

The Korean President has Invited President Putin of Russia to Korea. It is widely expected that he will urge for the acceleration of the Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR)-Trans-Korean Railway (TKR) connection. An obvious measure to increase the Russian Federations economic clout in Korea as well as to get Russia to bear more pressure on the Northern half of this divided land.

Some political analysts, however, point out the request was part of the Roh administration’s efforts to secure political leverage or the so called “North Korean card” ahead of the presidential elections in December 2007 because there was no need to deliver a personal letter, considering Russia has been pushing for the project more than Korea.