South Korea is satisfied with the level of cooperation with Ukraine in the space sector and is looking forward the launch of the Ukrainian-Russian Dnepr LV with a Korean satellite scheduled for August, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Ukraine Kim Eun Joong has said.
During a meeting with Deputy Economy Minister Anatoliy Maksiuta, the ambassador noted positive experience of the Ukrainian-Korean cooperation in the space sector and expressed satisfaction with the preparations for the Dnepr launch with Korean KompSat-5 scheduled for August 22, the press service of the Economic Development and Trade Ministry reported.
During the meeting, the parties also discussed the prospects for the bilateral trade, economic and investment cooperation.
According to the ambassador, South Korea appreciates the investment potential of Ukraine: “Korean companies are happy with the investment opportunities, as Ukraine is one of the largest areas for investment (in Europe),” he said.
Among the investment projects, which have appeal for Korean companies, the ambassador named a project of the construction of the Ukrainian terminal for liquefied natural gas, a program of organizing the production of high-speed trains in Ukraine, and a project for the construction of the subway in Dnipropetrovsk.
During the meeting, the parties noted that the trade between Ukraine and the Republic of Korea in 2012 totaled $2.03 billion, 19% up from 2011.
The Kosmotras International Space Consortium is preparing for the launch of a Dnepr rocket with the South Korean KompSat-5 satellite scheduled for August 22 from the Yasny launch site in Orenburg region, Russia.
The launch of the Korean radar satellite was originally planned for 2011. However the launch date has been repeatedly postponed due to the suspension of the Dnepr program in 2011 because of the Russian Defense Ministry’s position on the financial aspects of the program.
The resumption of the launches under the Dnepr program was raised at an inter-state level. At the 5th meeting of the Ukrainian-Russian interstate commission with the participation of the two presidents in July of 2012 in Yalta, the plans of three launches under the Dnepr program in 2013 were announced.
The agreement to resume the launches of the Dnepr rocket was confirmed at a meeting of deputy prime ministers of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, Yuriy Boiko and Dmitry Rogozin, in Moscow in May of 2013.
