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| A trail carrying South Korean officials crosses the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, as it heads to the North for railway inspections on Nov. 30. / Korea Times file |
By Kim Bo-eun
The South and North are discussing where to hold a ceremony marking the launch of inter-Korean railway and road projects, with the aim of holding the event within this month, the unification ministry said Tuesday.
"We are discussing with the North our proposition and theirs," a ministry official told reporters.
Leaders of the Koreas agreed at their summit in September to hold the ceremony within the year. Because the plan to inspect the North's train tracks had been put on hold for months, holding the ceremony by December appeared impossible.
However, the plan has become more feasible with inspections of the North's railways beginning on Nov. 30, after receiving exemptions from the U.N. Security Council on sanctions on the North for the project.
The official clarified that the ceremony, which has been referred to as a groundbreaking ceremony, does not signal the start of actual construction work.
"It is a ceremony that shows willingness to proceed with the project," he said.
This is because of international sanctions on Pyongyang. "Actual construction will proceed considering the situation over international sanctions on the North," he said.
He said South Korea and the U.S. are discussing whether holding the ceremony carries elements that violate sanctions on Pyongyang.
The official said plans will be drawn up after the ceremony, and additional inspections could be conducted if deemed necessary.
Currently officials of the Koreas are inspecting train tracks along the North's east coast. The inspections will continue through Dec. 17.
Earlier this month, they examined the North's train tracks along the west coast.
Inspections of the road along the east coast have yet to take place.
Meanwhile, officials of the Korea Forest Service, the unification ministry and other experts are currently in Pyongyang to check tree nurseries and factories for forestry equipment.
Based on the visit, the South and North will draw up plans for forestry cooperation, including pest control of the North's forests and modernizing tree nurseries, the unification ministry official said.
Data from the ministry shows cross-border visits surged this year, as a flurry of inter-Korean exchanges unfolded.
A total of 6,148 North Koreans visited the South as of Monday. This is up from 52 last year.
As for South Koreans, 806 visited the North, up from 63 last year.
To prepare for inter-Korean cooperation between local governments, the unification ministry will host a meeting today.
Officials of 17 local governments will attend the meeting presided by Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung.
