[imText1] Since North Korea agreed to experimental operations of the Kyunghui and East Sea Lines, which have been disconnected for half a century, the expectations about operating a regular North-South train and an intercontinental rail line have been rising.
Connecting the rails between North and South has been the hope of the North Korean citizens. When North and South were divided, all North Korean citizens knew that trains could not pass between the two sides.
The North-South rail connection was first agreed to clearly in the 1992 Inter-Korean Basic Agreement. It was again brought up after the 6.15 Summit Talks, when both sides agreed to connect the Kyunghui Line. Since then, citizens have dreamed about a βreunification trainβ that can go from Pyongyang to Pusan.
Citizens also think that if the rail starts to operate, they can earn exorbitant amount of money with the coming and going between North and South Korea. Regarding the economic effect of the rail connection between North and South, following reports from North Korea’s Radio and foreign information talk began to spread among the people that βif we lend a rail route, we can earn a profit of one hundred million dollars per station.β
According to the Ministry of Construction and Transportation of South Korea, service documents announced in 2000, in the case that the Siberian Rail (TSR) and North-South Rail (TKR) become connected, North Korea will gain an economic profit margin of $150,000,000 a year by 2011.
However, the reasons for the difficulty in connecting the North-South rail are North Koreaβs military priority, problems of the North Korean system, and dilapidation of rail facilities. Among these, the biggest reason is that through the rail connection, North Korea fears the outside world will learn of the details of the reality inside the nation and that there will be negative results stemming from increased civilian contact between North and South Koreans.
The fact that North Korea, which has alleviated fears of a threat to security by maintaining nuclear weapons, has shown a forward stance towards experimental operations of the North-South rail connections is worthy of affirmation. However, the reason that the operation stopped as a one-time event is because North Korea tried to make the rail connections a money-making scheme without having to face the difficulty of bearing the post-operation storm that it is a threat to the system.
First, the Kyunghui rail connection has a symbolic meaning of reform because it passes through major cities in North Korea, such as Kaesung, Pyongyang, and Shinuiju. One can say that connecting one railroad is not such a big deal, but from North Koreaβs perspective, it will not be easy to develop the railroad and the surrounding vast regions.
Residential homes that are falling down around the railroads, the existence of all kinds of facilities, the appearance of rag-clothed bundle-carrying North Korean civilians, their poor lives, and desperately dilapidated facilities can be broadcast to international community piece by piece. Furthermore, it will not be easy to keep an eye on all contact with South Korean civilians.
Because North Korea fears this point the most, there was a time, according to the `94 Geneva Agreement, when East Sea Line passenger trains were allowed to pass through Shinpo light-water reactor construction sites only at night. Civilians who rode trains at the time exclaimed, βSouthern Chosun (South Korea) has really progressed!β upon seeing South Koreaβs cranes, heavy machinery, and excavators.
Additionally, the currently active Mt. Keumkang tour is surrounded by rail fences that prevent contact with civilians. The Kaesung Industrial Complex was built on a vast prairie for the same reason.
The South sees that the North is passive about connecting the rails due to these side effects, and some are raising the opinions of building a barrier to segregate civilians from the railroadss. It is nothing but a house of cards.
The government itself should reexamine the fundamental purpose of whether the rail line itself is important or North Korea’s opening up and reforming is important.
