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South Korean Ambassador to the US Lee Soo-hyuck holds a press conference at the Korean Cultural Center in Washington, DC, on Jan. 21.

During a press conference at the Korean Cultural Center in Washington, DC, on Jan. 21, South Korean Ambassador to the US Lee Soo-hyuck emphasized that, of all inter-Korean cooperation projects, the inter-Korean railway project deserves the utmost attention, a South Korean official said. The South Korean government appears to be drawing up a list of equipment and goods required for an intensive survey of the inter-Korean railway project.

“President Moon listed three to four inter-Korean cooperation projects. I think the railway project is the one we need to push for most urgently, given the fact that it will take the longest,” said Lee.

At his New Year’s press conference on Jan. 14, South Korean President Moon Jae-in proposed ways in which inter-Korean cooperation could proceed, listing the resumption of the Kaesong Industrial Complex and tourism to Mt. Kumgang, the inter-Korean railway project, and the formation of a joint team for the Tokyo Olympics. The Ministry of Unification (MOU) seemed to be speeding up these efforts when, on Jan. 20, it unveiled its detailed plans for pursuing individual tourism to North Korea. Lee’s remarks can be construed to mean that the South Korean government will play an active role not just in pursuing tourism, but also in resuming the inter-Korean railway project.

Following a joint survey and groundbreaking ceremony in November and December 2018, the inter-Korean project to link and modernize railways and roads has been suspended amid deadlocks in inter-Korean and North Korea-US relations. At a regular briefing on Jan. 22, MOU Spokesperson Lee Sang-min said, “The current situation requires an additional detailed examination. We are continuing to make practical preparations internally.”

The South Korean government has reportedly determined that more equipment and items will be required for the detailed examination and is currently drafting a list of specific items.

Lee Soo-hyuck’s reference to the railway linkage project as “urgently needed” was interpreted as meaning that preparations will be need to be hastened because the detailed examination will take at least a year and a half. His remarks appear to have taken into account the possibility of the schedule for beginning full-scale railway linkages being moved up as progress is made in North Korea-US denuclearization talks during the examination. But with some analysts noting that North Korea has expressed displeasure with the lack of progress with the railway linkage effort since the joint survey in 2018, it remains to be seen whether North Korea will actively agree to the pursuit of a detailed examination.

Lee Soo-hyuck also commented on the defense cost-sharing negotiations between Seoul and Washington.

“Our two sides’ teams are currently in discussions under a timetable where we anticipate things can be wrapped up by February,” he said.

By Hwang Joon-bum, Washington correspondent, and Lee Je-hun, senior staff writer

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]