Russia may still be considering moving ahead with ambitious plans to build a gas pipeline across the Korean peninsula, according to comments made by Russia's Ambassador to North Korea earlier this month.

In a little noticed interview with Interfax News Agency earlier this month, the Russian Ambassador to North Korea Aleksandr Timonin denied reports that construction on the pipeline had been harmed by North Korea’s financial demands, while also saying that separate Russian – North Korean and Russian – South Korean talks were continuing.