Russia, S. Korea leaders to give green light on rail project

Asian Economic News, Feb 12, 2001

MOSCOW, Feb. 8 Kyodo

Russia's Railways Ministry indicated Thursday that Russia and South Korea will give the formal go-ahead to link up the railway system in Russia and South Korea through North Korea, approving the project during Russian President Vladimir Putin's official visit to Seoul later this month.

Putin and South Korean President Kim Dae Jung will make a ''political decision'' on the railway project, the ministry said.

The project involves linking Russia's trans-Siberian railway with the proposed inter-Korea railway line that would connect Seoul with Sinuiju in northwestern North Korea on the Chinese border.

Joining the South Korean railway system with the Siberian Railroad through North Korea would provide a direct rail link from South Korea to Europe and lower shipping costs.

North and South Korea agreed to restore the Seoul-Sinuiju line, in operation before the 1950-1953 Korean War, during the inter-Korea summit in June 1999 and Russia later jumped into the bandwagon, offering to extend the inter-Korea line to Europe through Siberia.

The three-nation project is estimated to cost $250 million.

The Russian Railways Ministry said the railways ministers of the three countries are expected to meet following Putin's trip to South Korea.

Alexander Tselko, first vice minister of the Russian Railways Ministry, is scheduled to travel to Seoul next Monday to brief the South Korean transport businesses the trilateral railway project.