North and South Korea agreed to expand a cross-border cargo rail service to passenger transportation next year, the Unification Ministry said yesterday.
The two sides began the regular train service across their heavily armed border for the first time in more than a half century early this month. But the service is limited only to freight transportation to and from a joint venture factory park in the North Korean border city of Kaesong.
The opening of the train service was part of measures to improve the industrial complex, a key symbol of reconciliation between the two Koreas that are still technically at war because their 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty.
Economic officials from the two sides met in Kaesong on Thursday and Friday to discuss further boosting the industrial zone.
They agreed on expanding the rail service and other measures, such as simplifying customs and border-crossing procedures, the ministry said in a statement.
South Korean workers, who commute to the Kaesong complex, can take the train to work, the ministry said.
The two sides have yet to work out details, including when to start the passenger service.
The new train service was one of the tangible results of an October summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun that outlined a series of joint projects.
That summit was only the second-ever such meeting between the two Koreas, following the first one in 2000.
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