North Korea

Russian–South Korean trade turnover increased from $859 million in 1992 to $1.58 billion in 1993 (Tsuneo Akaha, Asian Survey, 1995, vol. XXXV, no. 1, p. 107). In June 1994 Yeltsin said that Russia would let the 1961 Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance with North Korea expire at the end of 1996 (p. 108). (Moscow had already reinterpreted the treaty to stress that assistance would be given only if North Korea were to be attacked and not if North Korea committed an act of aggression.)

In 1995 trade between Russia and South Korea amounted to around $3 billion (IHT, 4 July 1996, p. 1).

President Putin of Russia visited South Korea on 26–28 February 2001. ‘Russia's debt to South Korea … has grown to $1.8 billion’ (IHT, 27 February ...