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South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed Wednesday to conduct a joint survey of the 400-meter area inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to reconnect inter-Koean railways and adjacent roads, South Korea's Ministry of Unification has said.
The agreement marked the conclude of a three-day working-level meeting the two sides have held since Monday at the Mount Geumgangin DPRK, Yonhap News reported.
The joint survey is aimed to determine exactly where the Gyeongui railway (Seoul-Sinuiju) on the western side of the DMZ and the Donghae railway on the eastern side of the DMZ are to be connected, said the Ministry of Unification of South Korea.
Under the agreement, 10 rail and road experts and five other support staff from each side will implement the joint survey in above areas later November.
South Korea and the DPRK held a ceremony in September to mark the start of the reconnection of the Gyongui railway line that will link Seoul to Sinuiju, as well as the Donghae railway linkinga string of coastal cities across the DMZ. Also in September, the two sides kicked off landmines clearance work in the DMZ as a preparation for the reconstruction work.
During the three-day talks, the two sides also agreed to open a makeshift road along the Donghae line, which will be used to transport tourists to Mount Geumgang in the DPRK, early next month as previously agreed in the second Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Promotion Meeting held late August in Seoul, said the ministry.
Meanwhile, the two sides held separate talks on means to enhance inter-Korean cooperation in maritime transportation.
The two sides agreed to hold further talks next month at Mount Geumgang to adopt an inter-Korean agreement on maritime transportation that will help set up an effective and safer inter-Korean maritime transportation system.
(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2002)
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