S. Korea, US working closely on inter-Korean road, rail project

TOKYO, Oct 17 (KUNA) -- South Korea said Wednesday that it is working closely with the US as it seeks to reconnect roads and railways across the border with North Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Presidential Spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom made the remark, rejecting a media report that Seoul and Washington are out of sync with each other on the road and rail project after the US State Department said improvements in inter-Korean relations cannot move separately from resolving the North Korea nuclear issue. "The South and the US are maintaining the highest level of cooperation," Kim told reporters in Seoul.
"The rail and road issue is moving well as scheduled, and we're communicating closely with the US, too." Kim said he checked the State Department's comment and found that it is a line that the department has used dozens of times before whenever asked for comments.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed at their third summit last month to reconnect two sets of cross-border roads and railways. The two sides agreed on Monday to hold a groundbreaking ceremony sometime between late November and early December.
Also on Monday, the US called for the full enforcement of UN sanctions on North Korea as the two Koreas moved to establish rail and road links across their border. "As President Moon has stated: 'The improvement of relations between North and South Korea cannot advance separately from resolving North Korea's nuclear program,'" a spokesperson for the State Department was quoted as saying in response to a Yonhap query.
"We expect all member states to fully implement UN sanctions, including sectoral goods banned under UN Security Council resolutions, and expect all nations to take their responsibilities seriously to help end North Korea's illegal nuclear and missile programs," the spokesperson added.
The UN sanctions aim to starve the Pyongyang regime of funds and resources to develop its nuclear and missile programs through severe restrictions on trade. (end) mk.tg