Gas is needed: Russia is ready to increase LNG supplies to South Korea and Japan
Moscow is ready to expand LNG supplies to South Korea and Japan, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told Izvestia. Seoul and Tokyo have already begun to increase purchases of Russian energy resources, which is a serious turn in the policy of the two countries. The Russian Federation may increase the supply of liquefied natural gas through the Yamal LNG project, experts noted. At the same time, normalization of relations with South Korea and Japan depends on the outcome of negotiations with the United States. About the changes in the gas market in the Asia-Pacific region — in the material of Izvestia.
South Korea and Japan are increasing purchases of resources from the Russian Federation
Russia could hypothetically increase exports of liquefied natural gas to South Korea and Japan, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told Izvestia.
— We are ready to increase LNG supplies when there is a clear and expressed desire on the part of these states. Unfortunately, these countries are still pursuing a sanctions line against Russia, which also affects cooperation in the framework of LNG projects," he said.
At the end of June, it became known that in May Seoul purchased from Moscow a record amount of liquefied natural gas worth $135.2 million since November 2024. In the list of natural gas exporters to the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia rose from seventh to fourth place, behind only Australia, Qatar and the United States. Oman and Indonesia remained behind. The increase in gas supplies from Russia is a steady trend, because in 2024 they increased by 28% compared to 2023.
It is important that in 2024, the Republic of Kazakhstan became the world's third largest LNG importer. The republic is trying to move away from coal generation and achieve carbon neutrality. At the same time, South Korea depends on external supplies for 90%, and the share of liquefied natural gas in electricity generation exceeds 28%. Therefore, Seoul is interested in diversifying its supplies.
Cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector came under attack after Seoul joined Western sanctions against Russia in 2022. In February 2023, South Korea expanded restrictions on exports of goods to Russia and Belarus to 798 items. However, in early 2025, Seoul lifted some anti-Russian restrictions, most notably the ban on the supply of medical equipment. Recall that power has changed in Seoul: President Yoon Seok-yeol was ousted as a result of impeachment, and the less anti-Russian Lee Jae-myung won the early elections.
The possibility of a further increase in Russian LNG supplies to South Korea cannot be ruled out, Russia is ready for this, Kim Yong-un, a leading researcher at the Center for Korean Studies at the ISSA of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said in an interview with Izvestia.
Japan is also showing interest in Russian energy resources. Tokyo in June of this year, for the first time since February 2023, purchased a small shipment of oil from the Russian Federation for a total of $25.3 million. According to media reports, this was done at the request of the Japanese Ministry of Economy. Although the country reduced purchases of Russian LNG by 3.3% earlier this year, this trend cannot be considered sustainable. For example, in December 2023, Tokyo imported a record amount of LNG from Russia since 2017. Japan is the world's second largest buyer of liquefied natural gas: in 2024, the country imported 65.89 million tons of LNG.
Japan and South Korea receive gas mainly from Gazprom's Sakhalin-2 plant, they have long-term contracts, and companies from the two countries are among the shareholders of the project. Thanks to this, Tokyo and Seoul receive LNG at low prices, which ensures their economic performance growth. They are holding on to him in every possible way, conveying their concerns to the United States, which takes their interests into account.: So far, sanctions have not been imposed on Sakhalin-2, Igor Yushkov, a leading analyst at the National Energy Security Fund and an expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia.
— It is extremely difficult to increase the volume of supplies from Sakhalin-2, as China buys gas shipments to the spot market. The increase in LNG supplies from Russia to Japan and South Korea is more likely to be associated with new projects, primarily Yamal LNG, where two stages have actually been launched, the expert emphasized.
The Yamal LNG project is being implemented on the Yamal Peninsula beyond the Arctic Circle on the basis of the Yuzhno-Tambeyskoye field. Yamal LNG, a joint venture between NOVATEK, TOTAL, the China National Petroleum Corporation and the Silk Road Foundation, became its operator.
Izvestia sent a request to NOVATEK and Gazprom regarding the possibility of increasing LNG supplies to Japan and South Korea.
Some experts believe that small increases in revenue from Sakhalin-2 are possible in the case of good climatic conditions, but a radical increase in supplies from this direction should not be expected.
Normalization of Moscow's relations with Seoul and Tokyo
The restoration of trade relations between Russia, South Korea and Japan is closely linked to the general normalization of the dialogue between the two countries. Japanese Ambassador to Moscow Akira Muto said Tokyo is ready to resume negotiations with Russia on a peace treaty when the situation permits. Japanese companies are also preparing for the return of cooperation with Russia: the media claim that Toyota, for example, recently organized a closed meeting with former dealers from the Russian Federation, hinting that the company could return as soon as "the situation changes."
At the same time, rapid normalization should not be expected: Japan has repeatedly stated that it will maintain sanctions against Russia until the conflict in Ukraine is resolved. In April, Tokyo agreed to transfer intelligence data to the GUR of Ukraine. Moreover, Kiev expects about $3 billion from Japan due to the proceeds from Russia's frozen assets under the G7 emergency lending program.
The prospects for restoring relations between Russia and South Korea depend on the talks between Lee Jae-myung and Donald Trump. Seoul does not act as an independent player and will follow the example of the United States, Kim Yong-un is sure.
— And if Russia and America come to an agreement, then we will have good relations with Seoul, because South Korea's main external partner is the United States. The foreign policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan is carried out based on how Washington acts in relation to other countries. There is a desire on our part to normalize relations," the expert believes.
However, the previous practice, when Russia tried to mediate in the dialogue between North and South Korea, will no longer exist, since Pyongyang has become an ally of Moscow. However, it does not go beyond statements about the need to establish an inter-Korean dialogue. This may also be due to the fact that the government of the Republic of Korea has not yet been fully formed, Kim Yong-un concluded.
Despite some desire by South Korea and Japan to begin normalizing relations with Russia in some areas, they are not taking concrete steps, observing the course of negotiations between Moscow and Washington. Russia has repeatedly said that it is ready for dialogue, but it must be borne in mind that Seoul and Tokyo are looking back at the United States, and their autonomy in relations with Russia can be considered limited.
But Moscow's dialogue with Washington remains difficult: Donald Trump is unhappy with the progress in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and threatens to impose sanctions on buyers of Russian energy resources. First of all, we are talking about India and China, the main importers of oil from the Russian Federation. However, Beijing and New Delhi are unlikely to succumb to pressure.: China buys oil from Iran, which is also under severe sanctions. In addition, Washington is clearly hesitant to sacrifice trade with the fastest-growing economies in the world.
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