Seoul: The unification ministry has announced plans to push for the resumption of a cross-border rail project with North Korea next year, while also mapping out long-term multinational projects to achieve peaceful coexistence with Pyongyang. The announcement was made during a briefing to the National Assembly Committee on Foreign Affairs and Unification.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry intends to begin preparatory work on the "four peaceful exchange projects," which aim to encourage cross-border exchange. These projects include a health cooperation initiative, the Wonsan-Kalma peace tourism project, a Seoul-Beijing high-speed railway, and the Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI). The ministry is particularly focused on revitalizing the GTI, a regional economic cooperation framework involving South Korea, China, Mongolia, and Russia, with an emphasis on transport, energy, and tourism. The ministry also plans to encourage Pyongyang to join the initiative.
As part of its efforts to lay the groundwork for inter-Korean exchange, the ministry announced plans to restart construction on the South Korean section of the Gyeongwon railway line next year, aiming for completion by 2029. Construction of the railway, which will connect Seoul and Wonsan in North Korea, began in 2015 but was suspended in 2016 due to worsening inter-Korean relations.
During the briefing, the ministry reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful coexistence with Pyongyang, emphasizing a "more defined and careful" approach in executing its planned projects. This approach aligns with President Lee Jae Myung's directive for the ministry to proceed with caution.
The ministry also projected that North Korea will continue to deepen strategic relations with China and Russia to strengthen its bargaining power in potential negotiations with Washington. It expects Pyongyang to shift its focus in future nuclear dialogues from denuclearization to arms reduction, while maintaining a cautious approach toward Seoul.