Moscow's New Focus on South Korea

Editor's Note: This is the second in a three-part series on Russia's intensifying focus on East Asia. Part 2 examines Russia's interests in Northeast Asia and its efforts to strengthen ties with South Korea. Part 1 examined Russia's strengthening ties with Vietnam. Part 3 will examine Russia's relationship with India, including the countries' shared interest in constraining China.  

As Europe diversifies its energy supplies away from Russia, Moscow has turned toward Asia's energy-hungry economies in search of markets for its hydrocarbon exports. Although Russia's main focus in Asia traditionally has been on the top economies of China and Japan, South Korea has also been an area of major interest. South Korea's healthy energy market and potential to invest in Russia's Far East make stronger ties with South Korea attractive to Russia. In November, Russia signed 25 bilateral agreements with South Korea and is also seeking rail and pipeline connectivity. Meanwhile, as Seoul and Washington's relationship is evolving into one that could mean less military support from the United States, South Korea could turn to Russia to pick up some of this slack.