Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to his South Korean counterpart, Roh Moo-hyun, that Russia would help train the first South Korean astronaut for a space flight, local media reported Tuesday.
“Russia will prepare and arrange the flight of a South Korean astronaut on a Russian spaceship,” Putin said.
A joint declaration signed by the two presidents earlier in the day said the first South Korean astronaut would make a flight in 2007, and that Russia would help train him for the mission.
The two presidents also signed an agreement Tuesday on peaceful space exploration.
The agreement, Roh said, would promote further development with Russia in space exploration and space technologies.
Moscow and Seoul have also agreed to continue interaction in developing the Korean space system of launches for civil purposes, as well as cooperation in joint manned missions, Itar-Tass said.
