North and South Korea have symbolically joined their railway networks together as they begin work to reconnect transport networks between the two countries.
But construction on the project cannot actually begin because of international sanctions banning the import of metals and energy products into North Korea.
Instead, engineers from the North and South - which are still technically at war - will spend the next two years conducting joint surveys and doing design work.
Officials from North and South Korea joined their railway networks together in a symbolic ceremony on Wednesday to mark the start of a project to connect the two countries
The groundbreaking ceremony took place in the border town of Kaesong, in North Korea, but actual construction cannot start because of sanctions against Pyongyang
The groundbreaking ceremony was held at Panmun Station in the border city of Kaesong on Wednesday.
A train full of 100 South Korean government officials, ministers and family members displaced by the Korean War was driven to the station for the event.
They were in turn greeted by a 100-strong North Korean delegation, as well as officials from the United Nations, China, Russia and Mongolia - amid wider plans to link North Korea with the trans-Siberia and trans-China railways.
But, underlining the scale of the challenges facing the project, even getting a train to Panmun required South Korea to obtain a permit from the UN Security Council.
Kim Yun Hyok, the North Korean vice railways minister, said the Koreas should push further with engagement instead of 'wobbling on the path while listening to what others think,' designed as a rebuke to Seoul over its close ties with America.
North Korea has repeatedly voiced displeasure about the slow progress in the reconciliatory projects agreed between their leaders.
North Korea's Vice Railway Minister Kim Yun Hyok (left), shakes hands with South Korea's Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee (right), as he urged the South to ignore orders from Washington and push ahead with reunification projects
South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon (right) talks with Ri Son Gwon (left), the chairman of North Korea's state agency in charge of inter-Korean ties
Around 100 South Korea officials met with a similarly sized North Korean delegation at Panmun Station, in the town of Kaesong, for the ceremony
The Seoul government plans to conduct further surveys on North Korean railways and roads before drawing up a detailed blueprint for the project.
Actual construction will proceed depending on the progress in the North's denuclearization and the state of sanctions against the country, the ministry said.
'We plan to hold detailed negotiations with the North to coordinate on the specific levels we want to achieve in the modernization of railways and roads and how to carry out the project,' said Eugene Lee, the ministry's spokeswoman.
South Korea has set aside some $600,000 for the project, but experts say the North's transport infrastructure is so dilapidated that it could take decades and absorb billions of dollars to modernise.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed to the ceremony during a September summit in Pyongyang with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a step toward joint industrial zones and reconnecting transport links.
South and North Korean officials sign a concrete railway tie during the ceremony. The countries will now conduct surveys and design work since construction cannot start
The North and South Korean delegation were watched by families displaced by the Korean war along with officials from China, Russia and Mongolia
A train carrying the South Korean delegates arrives at Panmun Station for the ceremony
It is another example of the thaw in relations between the Koreas, which began at the Winter Olympics and saw Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in holding hands while listening to K-Pop together.
The same thawing also saw American President Donald Trump meet with Kim in Singapore for the first ever summit between the two countries.
Trump let the summit full of admiration for Kim and certain he had achieved concrete steps towards 'denuclearising' the North, but progress has stalled over what that word actually means.
Pyongyang insists that it has taken several concrete steps towards winding down its nuclear weapons program, such as destroying the underground Punggye-ri testing site, and that it is time for America to reciprocate by lifting sanctions.
However, Washington is insisting that North Korea give up its entire nuclear arsenal first before sanctions are lifted later - an idea that Pyongyang has balked at.
A second summit between Trump and Kim is scheduled to take place in Washington sometime early next year, which the US leader has said he is 'looking forward' to.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/26/north-and-south-korea-join-their-railways-together-in-a-symbolic-ceremony/
Main photo article North and South Korea have symbolically joined their railway networks together as they begin work to reconnect transport networks between the two countries.
But construction on the project cannot actually begin because of international sanctions banning the import of metals and energy products...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/26/09/7830670-6529779-Officials_from_North_and_South_Korea_joined_their_railway_networ-a-1_1545815089271.jpg
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