MOSCOW(Sputnik) – Russian energy giant Gazprom believes it is too early to discuss plans to deliver gas to South Korea via North Korea, but when the time comes, it could be economically feasible, Gazprom Deputy Chairman Alexander Medvedev said Tuesday.
“The level of communication and interaction so far has not been reached in order to discuss the realization of delivering pipelined gas through the territory of North Korea to South Korea, as well as moving onto that stage when it becomes economically feasible, though from the economical point of view this would be the most effective variant for delivering gas [to South Korea],” Medvedev said during a press conference.
He added that a discussion could be initiated but this would depend on a political agreement between the North and South.
The idea for constructing a pipeline connecting Russia and North Korea to supply gas to South Korea was considered during a thaw in Pyongyang-Seoul relations more than ten years ago. It was never implemented due to political instability on the Korean peninsula.
North and South Korea remain in a formal state of war, as no peace treaty was signed after the Korean War of 1950-1953.
Gazprom has been viewing South Korea as a potential gas buyer since May 2013.
