South Korea-North Korea Starts Project on the Railway Line Construction and Real Estate

This peace project continues despite the negotiation deadlock between Pyongyang and Washington.

SEOUL, RABU - South Korea and North Korea made a breakthrough by starting a major project to modernize the railroad linking North and South. However, this project is hampered by economic sanctions from the United States and the United Nations regarding North Korea's nuclear program.

The two Koreas held a ceremony to launch the railroad project in the border city that entered the North, Kaesong, Wednesday (12/26/2018). A train from South Korea arrived at Kaesong carrying about 100 passengers, including government officials, parliamentarians and South Koreans who were separated from their relatives for decades after the 1950-53 Korean War. They were greeted with great fanfare by North Koreans, including Korean Minister of Second Affairs Ri Son Gwon.

Two Korean officials then signed the inscriptions witnessed by a number of invitees from China and Russia and Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Social and Economic Commission for Asia Pacific (ESCAP). This railway project is classified as ambitious. The two sides hope that this route will be connected with Trans-China and Trans-Siberia.

"This train network will not only shorten the distance and travel time, but also bring the hearts of the citizens of the South and North closer," said South Korea's Minister of Transportation Kim Hyun-mee. Previously, for several weeks officials from both Koreas carried out joint surveys related to the construction of railroad tracks. Both North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in continued to push for the peace project to continue despite a negotiation deadlock between Pyongyang and Washington.

North Korea's Minister of Railways Kim Yun Hyok on the occasion also pressured the South Korean side to keep going forward with their peace projects rather than "constantly groggy and listen to what the other party said".

Awkward situation

North Korea repeatedly objected to the slow realization of peace projects between the two countries which had been agreed by the two Korean leaders. On the other hand, Seoul's enthusiasm for continuing a peace project with Pyongyang caused an awkward situation with Washington.

US President Donald Trump along with a number of his cabinet ministers have urged Seoul to continue to pressure Pyongyang until Kim Jong Un takes concrete steps to denuclearize by destroying all of its weapons and missiles.

The Seoul government plans to conduct further research on the railroad and road routes in North Korea before making a more detailed blueprint for the project. Seoul spokeswoman Eugene Lee said construction was dependent on the progress of denuclearization carried out by North Korea and sanctions on the country. "We plan to conduct more detailed negotiations with North Korea to coordinate the steps we want to achieve in the modernization of the railroad line and how to realize the project," Lee said.

A number of experts estimate that even if North Korea takes concrete steps to denuclearize and then sanctions are lifted, efforts to modernize the railroad and road lines in North Korea will take decades with huge investments.

The two Koreas began railroad services between Munsan Station in South Korea and Panmun Station in North Korea in December 2007 to support a joint plant in Kaesong. However, this route was closed in 2008 due to tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Kaesong was closed in 2016 following a number of missile tests by Pyongyang.