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| Korean trains in historic link-up | Korean trains in historic link-up |
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| A pair of passenger trains have crossed the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea for the first time in more than 50 years. | A pair of passenger trains have crossed the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea for the first time in more than 50 years. |
| The two trains - one travelling from the North and one from the South - each carried 150 invited passengers. | The two trains - one travelling from the North and one from the South - each carried 150 invited passengers. |
| Rail links were cut during the 1950-53 Korean War, and the test runs are seen as a breakthrough in relations. | Rail links were cut during the 1950-53 Korean War, and the test runs are seen as a breakthrough in relations. |
| The event comes amid continuing concern over North Korea's failure to implement a pledge to shut its main nuclear site. | The event comes amid continuing concern over North Korea's failure to implement a pledge to shut its main nuclear site. |
| Pyongyang agreed to shut down and seal its Yongbyon reactor by 14 April in return for fuel aid from the US, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. | Pyongyang agreed to shut down and seal its Yongbyon reactor by 14 April in return for fuel aid from the US, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. |
| However, talks between the six nations broke down in March over a dispute involving the transfer of money, frozen in a Macau bank by the US, to North Korea. | However, talks between the six nations broke down in March over a dispute involving the transfer of money, frozen in a Macau bank by the US, to North Korea. |
| Twin tracks | Twin tracks |
| As the five-carriage trains set off on a 25km (16 miles) trip, South Korean Unification Minister Lee Jae-joun expressed his hope that the crossing could herald a new era in North-South relations. | As the five-carriage trains set off on a 25km (16 miles) trip, South Korean Unification Minister Lee Jae-joun expressed his hope that the crossing could herald a new era in North-South relations. |
| KOREAN BORDER Heavily fortified border has separated the two Koreas since 1950-53 war240 km long and 4 km wide, the DMZ takes up about 5% of the Korean peninsulaN Korea has 1.1m man army, S Korea and US forces total more than 700,000 href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6664663.stm">In pictures: Train crossing class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/asia_pac/03/the_korean_war/html/default.stm">History of Korean War | |
| "This will be a turning point for overcoming the legacy of the Cold War era, tearing down the wall of division and opening a new era for peace and reunification," said. | "This will be a turning point for overcoming the legacy of the Cold War era, tearing down the wall of division and opening a new era for peace and reunification," said. |
| A North Korean official, Kwon Ho-ung, said both nations "should not be derailed from the tracks" towards unification. | A North Korean official, Kwon Ho-ung, said both nations "should not be derailed from the tracks" towards unification. |
| There were some small-scale demonstrations on the South Korean side, but they did not affect the crossing, which was marked by fireworks and cheers. | There were some small-scale demonstrations on the South Korean side, but they did not affect the crossing, which was marked by fireworks and cheers. |
| Railway links are seen in the South as one of a number of ways to improve links with North Korea. | Railway links are seen in the South as one of a number of ways to improve links with North Korea. |
| The South has pushed for more frequent crossings, but in talks last week managed only to convince the North to agree to an initial test run. | The South has pushed for more frequent crossings, but in talks last week managed only to convince the North to agree to an initial test run. |
| Even for that the North has extracted a high price, says the BBC's Charles Scanlon, in the demilitarised zone. South Korea will supply it with $80 million (£41m) worth of economic aid for the development of light industry. | Even for that the North has extracted a high price, says the BBC's Charles Scanlon, in the demilitarised zone. South Korea will supply it with $80 million (£41m) worth of economic aid for the development of light industry. |
| Border tension | Border tension |
| The border region remains heavily mined, and a constant source of friction between North and South Korea, which never signed an official ceasefire at the end of their 1950-53 war. | The border region remains heavily mined, and a constant source of friction between North and South Korea, which never signed an official ceasefire at the end of their 1950-53 war. |
| The trains ran on two sets of tracks, both built and maintained by South Korea. | The trains ran on two sets of tracks, both built and maintained by South Korea. |
| The South wants to secure future border crossings | The South wants to secure future border crossings |
| Landmines and tank traps had been cleared from the narrow strip two years ago when the lines were reconnected. | Landmines and tank traps had been cleared from the narrow strip two years ago when the lines were reconnected. |
| One runs between Munsan station in South Korea and the North's Kaesong station in the west of the peninsula. | One runs between Munsan station in South Korea and the North's Kaesong station in the west of the peninsula. |
| The other connects Jejin station and the North's Kumgang station in the east. | The other connects Jejin station and the North's Kumgang station in the east. |
| The tracks have been reconnected - alongside roads - as part of recent reconciliation projects. | The tracks have been reconnected - alongside roads - as part of recent reconciliation projects. |
| Pyongyang does not recognise the border drawn by the United Nations at the end of the Korean War. | Pyongyang does not recognise the border drawn by the United Nations at the end of the Korean War. |
| Previous efforts to discuss cross-border trains have collapsed. | Previous efforts to discuss cross-border trains have collapsed. |
| Analysts say a rail link would bring advantages to both sides. | Analysts say a rail link would bring advantages to both sides. |
| For South Korea, it would mean easily transporting goods produced using cheap North Korean labour. | For South Korea, it would mean easily transporting goods produced using cheap North Korean labour. |
| Seoul hopes one day to connect its rail network to the Trans-Siberian railway, which runs from China through to Europe. | Seoul hopes one day to connect its rail network to the Trans-Siberian railway, which runs from China through to Europe. |
| The line would boost tourism for the North by providing a link to a mountain resort on the east coast popular with South Koreans. | The line would boost tourism for the North by providing a link to a mountain resort on the east coast popular with South Koreans. |