[K-MOVE] Groundbreaking for Inter-Korean Road/Rail

A ceremonial groundbreaking for the inter-Korean road and railway project has been held at Panmun Station, just north of the border between the two Koreas.

During the symbolic ceremony, high-ranking officials from the two Koreas reconnected the rails across the border and unveiled a road sign of Seoul to Pyongyang. They also vowed to reunify the divided Korean Peninsula.

It has been 10 years since the stoppage of the daily cargo train service to carry shipments to the Kaesong Industrial Complex, by running between Dorasan Station in the South and Panmun Station in the North.


[Kim Hyun-Mee, South Korean Transport Minister]
"The enormous amounts of costs and efforts we have spent in facing off against each other will be put to further our common peace and prosperity. North Korea has indirectly complained about tardy cooperation (from South Korea)...."

[Kim Yun-Hyok, North Korea's Vice Railway Minister]
"We cannot realize our nation's desire for unification if we hesitate and mind how others think."


Even though the groundbreaking event is seen as symbolic due to the ongoing United Nations sanctions against the North, many regard it as a significant accomplishment made by the two Koreas.


Many say that if realized, the inter-Korean traffic connection is to play a great role as the Northeast Asian region's major transport network and to further link Korea to the Eurasian landmass through a continental railway.