Doubts Grow on Renewing Kyongui Rail Link This Year

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Doubts Grow on Renewing Kyongui Rail Link This Year

Lim Dong-won, South Korea's unification minister, said plans to relink a cross-border railway this year look unlikely if North Korea fails to implement an accord to jointly begin construction inside the Demilitarized Zone by next month.

Since the plans for relinking the Kyongui railway emerged from a historic inter-Korean summit last June, South Korean government officials have said they expect the construction to be completed by this September.

"Both sides had agreed to begin the work in March or April, but the construction work in the Demilitarized Zone is being delayed because of the North's suspension of work," Mr. Lim said.

Military cooperation is essential, as thousands of land mines must be cleared inside the 4-kilometer-wide strip that separates the two Koreas.

Speaking at the National Assembly's committee of inter-Korean relations, South Korea's top unification policy maker said efforts are under way to urge North Korea to sign an agreement detailing assignments for the soldiers on each side in removing the mines.

Mr. Lim was also questioned about the government's decision to send 200,000 tons of fertilizer to North Korea. Lawmakers from the Grand National Party questioned whether the aid, worth 68 billion won ($51 million), is designed to break the deadlock in inter-Korean relations.

"What is the use of giving fertilizer when agricultural reforms have not even taken place in North Korea?" Representative Lee Hahn-koo said.

"Helping North Korea has been a policy that began with President Roh Tae-woo and has been based on national consensus," Mr. Lim replied.



by Lee Soo-ho

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