Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in walk into a conference room for talks in Tokyo. [Yonhap News Photo]
TOKYO -- South Korea and China are ready to join hands in building a railway line running across the Korean peninsula to link with a Eurasia railway project in return for North Korea's complete denuclearization, the South's presidential office said Wednesday.
The inter-Korean summit last month paved the way for the resurrection of stalled economic projects. As a first step, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leaders Kim Jong-un agreed to connect and modernize cross-border railways and roads.
The idea of building a cross-border rail line was raised again at talks in Tokyo between Moon and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Moon and Li shared the view that the international community, including the United States, should actively participate in ensuring a brighter future for Pyongyang such as economic development if the North implements a deal on complete denuclearization, Moon's office said.
In particular, South Korea and China can consider the construction of railroads running from Seoul to the northwestern border city of Sinuiju in North Korea and China to support the North's economic development, a presidential spokesman said, adding a related research project between South Korea and China could be discussed.
Pyongyang thinks it is doing what it has to do, the Chinese leader said, calling for Washington's "corresponding feedback". No details were given, but the meeting between Moon and Li coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's trip to North Korea. Pompeo said earlier that Washington has no interest in following a step-by-step process.
The two Koreas opened an inter-Korean industrial zone in Kaesong just north of the border in December 2004 as well as cross-border roads and rail tracks. Originally, the cross-border line was to be extended to Pyongyang and Sinuiju, but it was shelved due to cross-border tensions.
Establishing railway lines running across the Korean peninsula to link with a Eurasia railway project has been a long-cherished idea conceived by South Korean political leaders in their bid to crack open North Korea. Moon has also promised to connect the two Koreas by rail.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
