Koreas inch ahead on rail links

MOUNT GEUMGANG -- The project to reconnect rail and road links between the two Koreas moved forward over the weekend as negotiators hammered out a "military safeguard pact" and discussed the details of the construction.

The safeguard agreements, crucial preconditions to begin work inside the demilitarized zone, were concluded Saturday in talks between military authorities from the two sides. Teams for the two Koreas met at the truce village of Panmunjeom and reconfirmed an earlier accord, reached in February 2001, to assure the safety of workers who will do the work on the Gyeongui railroad and a road inside the western Demilitarized Zone. Another military safeguard measure, opening a 100-meter area in the eastern buffer zone, was also agreed on, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense announced Saturday.

The two sides will meet Monday and Tuesday to put the pact into effect. The two Koreas will begin removing land mines inside the DMZ Thursday after ground-breaking ceremonies scheduled to take place Wednesday.

In another set of bilateral talks between working-level government officials, Seoul and Pyeongyang agreed in principal on how to build the cross-border rail and road links; the two have agreed that Seoul will supply materials and equipment to the North for the construction. Despite the smooth conclusion of the military talks, which have been considered the most serious obstacle blocking the railroad and road projects, the talks hit several rough spots.

The South agreed with the North to supply construction materials and equipment of 50 billion won ($41.7 million) in the form of loans. The value is 20 billion won higher than what had been suggested by the South Korean unification minister, Jeong Se-hyun. After the South Korean presidential envoy returned from his visit to Pyeongyang in April, Seoul said it would assist the North on the rail and road links. Mr. Jeong had said the support would total 30 billion won.

Despite the increase in the amount of aid, the question of assistance to the North was still unresolved as of Sunday night. Seoul reportedly offered to provide materials and equipment gradually, along with site-inspections to monitor the use of the supplies. Pyeongyang, however, is demanding that the package be delivered all at once, saying that it will employ 10,000 laborers immediately to build the links.

As of Sunday night, the two Koreas were still addressing how to draw up an agreement. Seoul indicated that it will begin work on the Gyeongui Line at the Dorasan Station, near the North-South border, and for the East Coast Line at the Unification Observatory in Goseong.

The North is expected to hold its ground-breaking ceremony for the Gyeongui Line at a station in Bongdong, just south of Gaeseong. Onjeong-ri near the Mount Geumgang resort is another prospective site for the North's ceremony for the East Coast Line.

by Joint Press Corps