President Moon Jae-in and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a summit in Moscow on Thursday, Seoul’s presidential office announced Monday. 

According to Cheong Wa Dae, Moon will visit Russia for a four-day state visit from Thursday, and meet with Putin shortly after his arrival. This is the first time a South Korean leader is making a state visit to Russia since late President Kim Dae-jung in 1999.

Moon and Putin met on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Germany last year, and at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September.

“The summit meeting will be an important milestone in strengthening the relationship between the two leaders, and to further develop the strategic partnership between the two countries,” Nam Gwan-pyo, deputy director of the National Security Office, said.

“It will be an opportunity to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation as partners for peace and prosperity of northeast Asia.”

The meeting follows on the heels of the US-North Korea summit in Singapore, for which Russia had declared its support.

“Russia has made significant contributions to the issue of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, and in sanctions against the North,” a high level official said on condition of anonymity.

“Russia’s role in denuclearization and establishing peace on the peninsula is highly anticipated.”

During his stay, Moon will also meet with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and address the State Duma, Cheong Wa Dae said.

Moon will then attend a business forum and an event for Korean and Russian lawmakers. Moon will then move on to the city of Rostov-on-Don to meet with the Korean soccer team and watch their match against Mexico, Cheong Wa Dae said.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)