The nation is expected to send its first astronauts into space in spring 2008, a year behind schedule.

The chief of the Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos, Anatoly Perminov, informed Tuesday the head of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute of the delay.

South Korea and Russia had agreed to select and train astronauts for an April 2007 space mission, when the Soyuz will fly to the International Space Station.

Roscosmos spokesman Vyacheslav Davidenko said a major sticking point in the negotiations is rocket manufacturing in South Korea for the joint project.