MOCT sends railway fact-finding mission to North Korea

The MOCT (Ministry of Construction and Transportation) is slated to investigate the Inter-Korean Railway Connection Project to restore the Kyoungui-Line and dispatch a fact-finding mission to North Korea in the first half of this year. MOCT announced January 12th that it would propose constituting the fact-finding mission "The Second South-North Korea Economy Cooperation Council" to be held in Seoul coming next month. This fact-finding mission is supposed to investigate mutual railroad conditions for South-North Korea.

A South Korean mission made up of researchers, professors, and officials from the Korea National Railroad is expected to give basic research on the fundamental facilities in North Korea and to prepare for complementary measures to connect the Kyoungui-Line and Trans-Siberian Railroad (TSR).

MOCT regarded the possibility high for North Korea to accept its proposal because the North already agreed to connect the Kyoungui-Line and TSR with Russia in November.

The MOCT said that although about 30 percent ofthe Inter Korean Railroad system restoration is already complete, there has been relatively little exchange of views on the subject. It added that the fact finding mission,if possible, might be a great help to the Inter-Korean Railroad connection and for economic cooperation to stretch into the TSR.