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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 16 OcTOber 2018

Koreas agree to break ground on inter-Korean railroad

By KIM TONG-HYUNG posts by December, and
Associated Press demining sections of the
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Demilitarized Zone.
— North and South Korea Moon has described inter-
continued their push for Korean engagement as
peace Monday with high- crucial to resolving the nu-
level talks that resulted in a clear standoff and is eager
host of agreements, includ- to restart joint economic
ing a plan by the rivals for a projects held back by sanc-
groundbreaking ceremony tions if the larger nuclear
this year on an ambitious negotiations between the
project to connect their United States and North Ko-
railways and roads. rea begin yielding results.
The agreements come However, South Korea’s
amid unease in Washing- enthusiasm for engage-
ton over the speed of in- ment with its rival appears
ter-Korean engagement. to have created discom-
Many outsiders believe that fort with the United States,
U.S.-led efforts to rid North a key ally.
Korea of its nuclear-tipped Moon’s government last
missiles are lagging signifi- week walked back a pro-
cantly behind the Koreas’ posal to lift some of its uni-
efforts to move past de- lateral sanctions against
cades of bitter rivalry. North Korea following
There was also controversy Trump’s blunt retort that
over a decision by South South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, right, shakes hands with his North Korean Seoul could “do nothing”
Korea’s Unification Ministry counterpart Ri Son Gwon before their meeting at the southern side of Panmunjom in the without Washington’s ap-
to block a North Korean Demilitarized Zone, South Korea, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. proval.
defector-turned-reporter Associated Press South Korean Foreign Min-
from covering the talks at railway and road projects, use their newly opened liai- Minister Cho Myoung-gyon ister Kang Kyung-wha also
the border village of Pan- the Koreas cannot move son office in the North Kore- said it was meaningful that said U.S. Secretary of State
munjom over concerns much further along without an border town of Kaesong the Koreas are getting fast- Mike Pompeo expressed
of angering North Korea. the lifting of international to host talks between sports er in reaching agreements displeasure about the Ko-
This drew a fierce reaction sanctions against North officials in late October to as their diplomacy gains reas’ military agreements.
from other journalists, who Korea, which isn’t likely to discuss plans to send com- traction. His North Korean Kang was not specific,
accused the ministry of in- come before it takes firmer bined teams to the 2020 counterpart, Ri Son Gwon, but her comments fueled
fringing media freedoms steps toward relinquishing Summer Olympics and to who heads an agency speculation that Washing-
and discriminating against its nuclear weapons and make a push to co-host the dealing with inter-Korean ton wasn’t fully on board
North Korea-born citizens. missiles. 2032 Summer Games. affairs, said “no group and before Seoul signed the
A series of weapons tests South Korea’s Unification And the two countries will no force will be able to agreements.
by North Korea last year, Ministry, which handles af- hold Red Cross talks at prevent the path toward Trump has encouraged
and an exchange of insults fairs with the North, said in a North Korea’s Diamond peace, prosperity and our U.S. allies to maintain sanc-
and threats between U.S. statement that the govern- Mountain resort in Novem- nation’s unification.” tions on North Korea until it
President Donald Trump ment will share details from ber to set up video-confer- At the most recent summit denuclearizes to maintain
and North Korean leader Monday’s meeting with the ence meetings between between Moon and Kim, a campaign of pressure
Kim Jong Un, had many United States and other na- aging relatives separated the two leaders committed against Kim’s government.
on the Korean Peninsula tions and will closely coor- by the 1950-53 Korean War to reviving economic co- There also was criticism in
fearing war. But there has dinate with them to avoid and potentially expand operation when possible, South Korea on Monday of
since been a surprising any friction over sanctions. face-to-face reunions be- voicing optimism that in- efforts by Moon’s govern-
peace initiative, with three The ministry said the rivals tween them. ternational sanctions could ment to keep North Korea
inter-Korean summits and a agreed Monday to hold Monday’s talks were aimed end and allow such activ- happy.
June meeting in Singapore general-level military talks at finding ways to carry out ity. Unification Minister Cho
between Trump and Kim. soon to discuss reducing peace agreements an- They also announced mea- said his call to exclude
The U.S. and North Korea border tensions and setting nounced after a summit sures to reduce conven- North Korea-born Kim My-
are working on plans for a up a joint military commit- last month between South tional military threats, such eong-sung from a pool
second such summit. tee that’s meant to main- Korean President Moon as creating buffer zones of reporters covering the
Still, there is widespread tain communication and Jae-in and Kim in the North along their land and sea meeting was an “inevitable
skepticism that North Korea avoid crises and acciden- Korean capital of Pyong- boundaries and a no-fly policy decision” to improve
will disarm. And, despite the tal clashes. yang. zone above the border, re- the chance for successful
fanfare for the proposed The Koreas also agreed to South Korean Unification moving 11 front-line guard talks.q