President Lee Myung-bak has responded positively to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s current visit to Russia.

Presidential spokesman Park Jeong-ha said the president told aides accompanying his trip to Mongolia that if the North Korean leader makes frequent visits to countries with open systems other than China, it will help reform the North's society.

Park said that Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan had discussed the construction of gas pipes with Russia during his recent visit to Russia, noting improvements in the North Korea-Russia talks over the gas pipe issue.

The presidential spokesman added that Seoul and Moscow are closely cooperating regarding the North Korean leader’s visit to Russia.