Neighbors fete new railroad border linkup

Symbolic ceremony connects DPRK and ROK as way of fostering better ties

A groundbreaking ceremony to modernize and eventually connect road and rail transportation on the Korean Peninsula was held on Wednesday, building on the momentum of easing inter-Korean relations since early this year.

The ceremony, held at Panmun Station in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's border town of Kaesong, was attended by about 100 participants from both DPRK and Republic of Korea, according to Seoul's unification ministry.

Connection of railways and roads is among a series of measures aimed at improving bilateral ties agreed upon in September by the ROK President Moon Jae-in and the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong-un.

Kim Yun-hyok, the DPRK railway minister, said in a congratulatory speech that the ceremony was held at a historical moment when the peninsula was into a historical turning point and the desire for peace and prosperity got stronger than ever, Xinhua News Agency reported.