[ad_1]
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea announced on Saturday that it has received from the US Security Council sanctions exemptions a joint inquiry into inter-Korean rail transport.
This is the first step towards the implementation of an inter-Korean agreement on the reconnection of railways and roads cut since the 1950-53 Korean War, as part of efforts to improve bilateral relations.
The agreement was reached during the October talks to follow up on this year's third summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The two Koreas had previously planned to conduct joint field studies on transport plans from late October, with the goal being to hold a groundbreaking ceremony in late November and early December.
But the plan was delayed by the stalled talks between Washington and Pyongyang following an unprecedented summit in June, in which both sides agreed to work towards nuclearization and peace on the Korean peninsula. .
Negotiations have recently advanced, Pyongyang being upset by Washington's insistence on maintaining international sanctions until it abandons its nuclear weapons.
The United States told South Korea, their ally, that it should not improve their relations with North Korea faster than Pyongyang is taking action to give up its nuclear weapons.
Lee Do-hoon, the South Korean nuclear negotiator, said earlier this week that Washington supports the inter-Korean railway investigation, according to the Yonhap News Agency.
Reportage of Hyunjoo Jin; Edited by Stephen Coates
