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Korean trains in historic link-up Korean trains in historic link-up
(about 2 hours later)
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. South Korea hailed it as a landmark in relations between the two countries.
The event comes amid continuing concern over North Korea's failure to implement a pledge to shut its main nuclear site. But Thursday's crossing remains largely symbolic, the BBC's Charles Scanlon says. North Korea has so far only agreed to a one-off test-run.
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. For that, our correspondent adds, Pyongyang has demanded a high price.
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. South Korea has agreed to supply it with $80 million (£41m) worth of economic aid for the development of light industry.
Twin tracks 'New era'
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. Hundreds of people gathered at Munsan station in west South Korea to cheer the five-carriage train as it set off on the 25km (16 miles) trip to Kaesong, across the heavily-armed border.
Firecrackers and white balloons were set off and crowds waved white-and-blue "reunification flags".
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 In pictures: Train crossing History of Korean WarKOREAN 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 In pictures: Train crossing 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. On the eastern side, children bearing flowers welcomed the North Korean train as it arrived at Jejin station. One carriage carried a banner reading: "The train once boarded by great president Kim Il-sung".
Each train carried 150 passengers from both Koreas - and included celebrities and politicians.
Passengers on the South Korean train said they were warmly received in the North, while female cabin attendants in military uniforms on board the North train posed for pictures upon arrival at the station in the South.
One of those on board the North-bound train was a conductor who made one of the last railway crossings before they ended because of the 1950-53 Korean War.
"I wish I could operate this train myself," Han Chun-ki, 80, said. "I never thought this day would come".
South Korean Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung expressed his hope that the crossing could herald a new era in North-South relations.
"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," he 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. However, not everyone welcomed the event.
Railway links are seen in the South as one of a number of ways to improve links with North Korea. A small number of protesters - mainly relatives of South Koreans allegedly abducted by the North following the war - gathered at Munsan.
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. "I wish the train would come back with my son if he is still alive," a tearful Lee Kam-shim, 72, told the Associated Press.
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 tensionBorder 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 South has long pushed for a railway connection with the North - not only as a way of improving links with its neighbour, but also to establish better transportation links to China and beyond.
The trains ran on two sets of tracks, both built and maintained by South Korea. But the secretive Communist country has been less enthusiastic, and previous talks have collapsed as Pyongyang has sought to extract concessions on other issues, such as a disputed sea border.
The South wants to secure future border crossings The train from the North was welcomed by flag-waving onlookers
Landmines and tank traps had been cleared from the narrow strip two years ago when the lines were reconnected. Thursday's historic crossing was made possible after the North's military agreed last week to provide security across what is the world's most heavily fortified border.
One runs between Munsan station in South Korea and the North's Kaesong station in the west of the peninsula. The two sides are still technically at war - having never signed an official ceasefire at the end of the Korean War.
The other connects Jejin station and the North's Kumgang station in the east. But there have been concerted efforts, particularly by the South, at reconciliation in recent years.
The tracks have been reconnected - alongside roads - as part of recent reconciliation projects. The railway tracks - which run alongside roads across the border - were built and maintained by South Korea part of recent reconciliation projects.
Pyongyang does not recognise the border drawn by the United Nations at the end of the Korean War. And landmines and tank traps were cleared from the narrow border strip two years ago when the lines were reconnected.
Previous efforts to discuss cross-border trains have collapsed.
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.
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.