December 06, 2023
Analysis

30 years later, Russia and South Korea’s relationship is going steady

Seoul and Moscow’s diplomatic ties also benefit Pyongyang, despite old Cold War tensions

Earlier this week, South Korea and Russia vowed to discuss President Vladimir Putin’s tentative visit to Seoul, which is expected to happen sometime after the COVID-19 situation “normalizes.” The two countries also teased a future of “trilateral economic cooperation” with North Korea.

But just 30 years ago, South Korea and Russia were only beginning to formally establish ties. On Sept. 30, 1990, Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev and South Korean president Roh Tae-woo shook hands and promised to begin down the long road of diplomacy.