(2nd LD) Moon, Putin discuss sanctions on N. Korea

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in para 5-6; ADDS photo)

SINGAPORE, Nov. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, talked about easing sanctions on North Korea in their talks Wednesday on the sidelines of a regional summit in Singapore, Moon's office said.

Moon requested Moscow's active role in efforts to persuade Pyongyang to take denuclearization steps in a "bolder manner," saying substantial progress is expected in the denuclearization and peace processes, especially as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un plans to visit Seoul, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom.

The two leaders had "comprehensive" discussions on the terms and conditions of easing sanctions on the North, he added.

In the 58-minute meeting, Putin was quoted as telling Moon that there should be reciprocal measures if there is progress in denuclearization.

On Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia, Putin said Kim is interested in it and relevant consultations are under way.

Moon and Putin agreed to continue cooperation to achieve the goal of increasing two-way trade volume to US$30 billion and the total number of visitors traveling between the two countries to 1 million per year.

Their meeting, their fourth since Moon took office last year, came days after high-level denuclearization negotiations between the United States and the North were abruptly called off last week.

In Wednesday's meeting, Moon and Putin were expected to discuss ways to get the denuclearization talks restarted at an early date, as well as measures to further strengthen relations between the two countries.

The two leaders last met in June when Moon made a state visit to Russia.

Moon arrived in Singapore on Tuesday to attend a trio of annual summits hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- a Korea-ASEAN summit, an ASEAN Plus Three summit, also involving China and Japan, and the broader East Asia Summit.

During the Korea-ASEAN summit scheduled for Wednesday, Moon plans to propose holding a special Korea-ASEAN summit next year to further solidify relations with the Southeast Asian nations under his "new southward policy." Moon also plans to host a separate summit between Korea and the Mekong River countries of Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand.

He was also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of Brunei and Laos.

Singapore is the first leg of a six-day trip that will also take Moon to Papua New Guinea on Saturday and Sunday for this year's summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum involving Pacific Rim nations.
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