South, North Ministers Comment on Inter-Korean Cross-Border Cargo Train

Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap

Kaesong [Kaeso'ng], North Korea, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) – A South Korean cargo train on Tuesday crossed the heavily fortified border dividing the two Koreas as the countries launched a regular inter- Korean train service for first time since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

[The lead locomotive of the South Korean train is being linked with freight cars]

The train [No. S7303, engineer Sin Chang-ch'o'l; the freight train is made up 12 sections: one locomotive, 10 container freight cars, and one conductor car for the train conductor and other working personnel] left South Korea’s Munsan station, just south of the inter-Korean border, shortly after 6 a.m. [ 2100 gmt on 10 December] It arrived at North Korea’s Panmun station after going through border inspections.

“This means the blood vessel between South and North Korea has finally become unclogged,” an official from the South Korean Unification Ministry told reporters.

The cargo rail service aims to transport raw materials and goods between South Korea and a joint industrial complex in the North’s border town of Kaesong [Kaeso'ng], where some 50 South Korean businesses are currently operating.

Unification Minister Lee Jae-jeong [Yi Chae-cho'ng] and some 100 others later travelled to the North Korean train station for a joint ceremony marking the launch of the cross-border cargo train service.

“The inter-Korean railway is a key infrastructure that will back up economic cooperation between the Koreas that is expanding and developing on a daily basis,” Lee said in a congratulatory speech at the ceremony.

[ROK Unification Minister Lee Jae-jeong [Yi Chae-cho'ng] gives his remarks during the ceremony]

Kwon Ho-ung [Kwo'n Ho-ung], a senior Cabinet minister and the North’s highest delegate to the ceremony, replied with equal enthusiasm.

“The launch of the cargo train service is a significant event that will mark a page in the nation’s history,” he said. “It will invigorate the Kaesong [Kaeso'ng] industrial complex while greatly contributing to achieving reconciliation, cooperation and the unification of our nation.”

[Kwo'n Ho-ung, chief councillor of the DPRK Cabinet, delivers remarks during the ceremony celebrating the inauguration of the inter-Korean cargo train service]

The service is one of the first major projects to be implemented since President Roh Moo-hyun [No Mu-hyo'n] and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il [Kim Cho'ng-il] agreed to various economic cooperation and reconciliatory projects at their summit in early October.

The rail service is strictly limited to cargo for now, but the opening of the cross-border railway potentially represents a new means to travel between the divided Koreas. The two Koreas opened up their cross-border roads following the historic summit between then President Kim Tae-chung [Kim Dae-jung] and the North Korean leader in 2000.

“The economic effect of the train service may not be too significant for now, but the goal is to win freer access for our people and businesses to North Korea,” a ministry official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The train service is expected to significantly reduce shipping costs for South Korean businesses operating at the joint industrial complex.

However, the cargo to be shipped to and from Kaesong [Kaeso'ng], which is currently serviced by road, totals only 12,000 tons a month. A 10-carriage train can ship up to 10,000 tons of cargo on each run, according to officials.

South Korea’s long-term plans include connecting the cross- border railway to the Trans-China and Trans-Siberian railways. Currently, over two dozen South Korean businesses are operating in the Kaesong [Kaeso'ng] complex, producing over US$19 million worth of goods a month.

A train will run daily on weekdays to the North’s Panmun Station, and run up to Bongdong or Kaesong [Kaeso'ng] once the Koreas build a logistics centre there, ministry officials said.

Originally published by Yonhap news agency, Seoul, in English 0815 11 Dec 07.

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