Two Koreas to embark on inter

By Lee Min-hyung

The two Koreas will embark on joint inspections next month to connect the two countries by rail, in a move to fulfill the Pyongyang Declaration signed by leaders from both sides, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.

"To hold a groundbreaking ceremony for inter-Korean railways and highways this year, we need to kick off the field inspections at least within next month," Kim Eui-kyeom, spokesman for the presidential house, said in a media briefing.

This is part of measures to fulfill the recent agreement reached during the inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, where President Moon Jae-in agreed on the plan with his northern counterpart Kim Jong-un.

"We are going to negotiate with the United Nations Command (UNC) over the plan by the two Koreas," the presidential spokesman said.

But he did not unveil a specific timeline over when to begin the work, as Seoul and Pyongyang are still in talks with the UNC over the move.

Late last month, the UNC disapproved of Seoul's plan to conduct inspections of railway conditions in the North.

But the spokesman raised hopes that it will not be repeated this time.

"We are going to continue communicating with the UNC," he said.

The working-level talks to push ahead with the plan are expected to make smooth progress in consideration of President Moon's latest keynote speech to the United Nations General Assembly, according to the spokesman.

A roadmap over the North Korean policy has been drawn during Moon's U.S. visit when he delivered the speech and held a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, he said.