2 Koreas Discuss Road Connection

June 28, 2018

Seoul- North and South Korea on Thursday held working-level talks on road connection between the two nations, based on an accord reached at an inter-Korean summit two months ago.

The talks were held at a North Korean facility in the truce village of Panmunjom.

In the Panmunjom Declaration, signed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the summit on April 27, the two Koreas agreed to consider connecting their railways and roads, and discuss ways to utilize them.

On Tuesday, the two countries held their first working-level talks on railway connection, at a South Korean facility in Panmunjom, and agreed to carry out joint research from July 24.

At Thursday's meeting, South Korea was represented by Vice Transport Minister Kim Jeong-ryeol and North Korea by Pak Ho Yong, vice minister for land and environmental protection.

Given that strict international sanctions have been imposed on North Korea, the South Korean side hopes to discuss only possible joint research on road connection while avoiding detailed cooperation talks, sources familiar with the situation said.

By contrast, Pyongyang is expected to call on Seoul to start joint work early on road repairs and connection on the assumption that the sanctions will be eased in line with progress in the denuclearization of North Korea.

Before leaving for Panmunjom, the South Korean chief negotiator said that he wants to produce good results at the talks, suggesting that the two sides are likely to discuss the possibility of constructing an expressway linking the two countries. Jiji Press