Moscow, Sept 21, SPA -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Tuesday praised Russian President Vladimir Putin's effortsto bring stability to the divided Korean peninsula throughMoscow's role in talks aimed at persuading North Korea togive up its nuclear ambitions. Roh said he wanted to "thank the Russian government forplaying an active role in bringing about peace andstability to the Korean peninsula and our region." The South Korean leader laid a wreath at Russia's WorldWar II memorial just outside the Kremlin walls before thetwo leaders held talks that also covered ways to boosttrade. "I would like to say that after you became president,politics in Russia became stable and the economy begandeveloping at a fast rate and this increases our interest(in trade)," Roh told Putin. Putin stressed that Russia's cooperation with Seoul "isaimed at strengthening peace and cooperation in northeastAsia." "Our common work is not aimed against someone. It isaimed at strengthening security and boosting cooperationnot only between our two countries but in all the countriesof the region," he said.--SPA1420 Local Time 1120 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/203585