Seoul, Moscow discuss gas pipeline MOSCOW, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- South Korea gave assurances to Russian energy company Gazprom that it was interested in building a natural gas pipeline for eastern markets, said Gazprom. Gazprom announced in September that it signed a memorandum of understanding with North Korea to build a natural gas transmission system to the Korean Peninsula. At the time, South Korea said the project was in the very early stages of planning. South Korean gas company Kogas had talks in Moscow with Gazprom officials to discuss the pipeline. "Both sides emphasized their interest in implementing the project and highlighted the importance of coming to a prompt agreement to effectively put on stream," the Platts news service quoted Gazprom as saying. South Korea is one of the largest natural gas consumers in the world. If built, the pipeline has the potential to deliver more than $500 million each year in transit fees for the North Korean government. Seoul had said the reliability of gas supplies through North Korean territory would rest in Russian hands. The pipeline, if built, could go into service by 2017.