In thematic section "Russia, the South and the North of Korea: future of new economic space of cooperation?" representatives of a business community and scientific elite of all three member countries took part.
Already for several years the subject of reports is devoted to the main three possible directions of cooperation developed currently: construction of the Transkorean railroad with an exit to the Trans-Siberian Railway, construction of the gas pipeline and the power bridge to the Republic of Korea through the territory of the DPRK. It should be noted that the railway Hassan-Radzhin project which purpose was start of the international freight transit transport through Radzhin port and section of the railroad Hassan – Radzhin with an exit to the Trans-Siberian Railway, - the only existing project implemented currently and operating activities of the Joint Russian-Korean venture “RasonConTrans” JVС supervising implementation of the project on behalf of JSC "Russian Railways" are a valuable practical experience for a solution of strategic and political affairs by means of economic cooperation.
The export of the Russian coal through Radzhin port stopped, despite the special exceptions provided by resolutions of the UN Security Council at the end of 2017. Prohibition on the run of vessels from the ports of the DPRK entered one-sided by sanctions of the Republic of Korea a difficult procedure of obtaining note verbale of committee 1718 UNSC on the notification on supply of the Russian coal, the weak interest of suppliers and partners, not persons interested to bear risks because of possible failures of deliveries – problems which solution, requires interaction of all member countries.
Since April, 2018 resuming of interest from the Republic of Korea in participation in the project is noted. The successful start to a new round of the relations was given by an official visit of delegation of Presidential Committee of the Republic of Korea on northern economic cooperation headed by the chairman Mr. Song Yong Giliem in Radzhin port on July 13-14, 2018. Negotiations with administration of the South Korean city of Pohang which ports are in great need in increase in freght traffic became continuation. According to the CEO “RasonConTrans” JVС Ivan Tonkikh, it is favorable to southerners to accept coal from Radzhin because it will be much cheaper, than from the Russian ports. "Besides, - he adds, - "the project gives the chance to begin dialog which can set a new vector of development of the relations on the peninsula". Within the program of business meetings of the WEF the official meeting with the mayor Pohang on which the manual of “RasonConTrans” JVС received the invitation to participate in the Forum of interregional economic cooperation in Pohang on November 7-9, 2018 and to sign the Memorandum of cooperation took place.
From the DPRK readiness for constructive dialogue on participation in tripartite projects is also observed. After the meeting with the chairman of the State Council of the DPRK Kim Jong-un the speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko said that the head of North Korea is going to return to discussion of joint tripartite projects with the president of the Republic of Korea. In many performances it was marked the WEF that the subject of the interkorean settlement came to a new stage of development — again there was a chance to solve a problem on the peninsula by diplomatic and economic methods. All these positive trends allow to hope for change of the relation to the existing railway Hassan-Radzhin project and for the beginning of use of production capacities of Radzhin port at full capacity.
Ivan Tonkikh (CEO of “RasonConTrans” JVС) was speaker at the WEF and reported that transfer of the Russian coal in Radzhin port in the DPRK can be resumed this year.
