Panmunjom, the two Koreas study rail link between North and South

The commitment to modernize and unite the railway systems agreed at  April summit. Since the war, the two Koreas without direct civilian communication lines. The problem of sanctions.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Modernizing and uniting the railway systems of North and South Korea that cross the border: this is the discussion today at the meeting between the officials of the two Koreas, under way in Panmunjom.

The meeting began at 10 am and will continue until the afternoon, on the south side of the village in the demilitarized zone. The two sides shared their positions on "effective" and "practical" methods to facilitate railway cooperation, as signed in the Panmunjom Declaration of 27 April. The focus is on connecting and modernizing rail lines that pass through the border, in the eastern and western areas of the Korean peninsula.

Railways that cross the border would significantly transform the relationship between the two sides of the peninsula: since the end of the war and the signing of the armistice, there has been no direct civil communication line between the two Koreas. Furthermore, an intercity railway system would open a new trade route for Seoul to China, India and Europe.

Kim Jeong-ryeol, head of the South Korean delegation, this morning acknowledged that the start of the work could be slowed down by the sanctions still in force against Pyongyang: "However, we can research and study in depth the various projects that can be put in place when the sanctions are loosened".

• korea
• dialogue
• panmunjom
• declaration of panmunjom
• north korea
• south korea
• railways
• inter-Korean dialogue