Seoul - Renewed talks between North and South Korea over a
new date for the test run of the restored rail link between the two
countries Thursday ended without any tangible results, the South
Korean Yonhap news agency reported.
Referring to information from delegation circles in the North
Korean border city of Kaesong, Yonhap said Seoul had again made
planned aid for the North Korean light industry dependent on the
running of the rail service.
Seoul had insisted on continuing discussions over economic aid
only after the test run, while North Korea had wanted to resolve both
issues at the same time, according to Yonhap.
In May 2006, North Korea cancelled the planned test run on the
cross-border train line, which had been out of service for more than
half a century.
The restoration of the train line, on which the two countries
agreed seven years ago, is widely seen as one of the most important
projects of inter-Korean approachment in recent years.
Two weeks ago, the two countries had agreed during ministerial
talks to make up for the missed test run - if possible - in the first
half of 2007.
'There were differences on when to start the joint cooperation
project with the light industry and natural underground resources,' a
spokesman for the Unification Ministry in Seoul said after the two-
day talks. However, negotiations are to resume soon.
South Korea had promised North Korea to provide raw materials for
the production of shoes, clothes and soap. North Korea intends to
repay South Korea in 'natural resources' and with the right to mine
minerals.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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