South Korea's transportation ministry said Sunday it is reviewing a set of measures to prepare a potentially full-fledged implementation of cross-border economic projects.
Last Friday, at the historic inter-Korean summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the two Koreas agreed to push forward a slew of economic projects agreed upon by late South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2007 for balanced growth and joint prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.
"We are working on reviews of studies done in the past, and a task force may be set up to iron out follow-up measures (to the summit)," said an official at the transportation ministry.
In this photo taken April 27, a man takes a photo of a bulletin that reads "The Steelhorse Wants to Run!" at a train stop no longer in use in a city in Gangwon Province near the border with North Korea. (Yonhap)
As part of their initial steps, Seoul and Pyongyang agreed to connect cross-border roads and railways, and upgrade the existing infrastructure. The plan includes taking practical steps to utilize the Gyeongui railway, which links Shinuiju, a city on the Korean Peninsula's border with China, and Seoul.
Talks on infrastructure could not only potentially lead to an inter-Korean railway system but also raises the possibility for the construction of airports and other critical infrastructure facilities and the development of special economic zones in the North that can benefit from outside investment.
In the two previous summits in 2000 and 2007, Seoul and Pyongyang agreed to cooperate to build a railway connecting the two Koreas, but the agreement was reneged on due to various reasons.
Government officials here said inter-Korean cooperation can be discussed as the two Koreas are expected to hold working-level talks to execute the railway construction projects. (Yonhap)