Russia, N.K. to discuss TSR-TKR linkage Mar. 16

North Korea and Russia will finalize details concerning the linkage of the Trans-Siberia Railroad (TSR) and the Trans-Korea Railroad (TKR) during bilateral railroad ministers’`talks in Pyongyang Mar. 16 and 17, said Russian railroad minister Nikolai Aksyonenko on Monday.

In an interview with Kyodo News of Japan, Aksyonenko said, ``Russia hopes to complete the linkage of the two railroads through Hasan, a border town in the Far East, but North Korea has a different proposal. The matter will be ironed out at the forthcoming talks.``

An official of the Russian railroad ministry said both sides would also discuss issues related to the modernization of railroads in North Korea and the amount of Russia`s investment in the connection of railroads passing through South Korea, North Korea, and Russia.

Russia earlier proposed tripartite talks of railroad ministers, which would also have involved South Korea. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would invest hundreds of million dollars in the project when he made an official visit to Seoul. However, North Korea postponed its answer on whether to participate in three-way talks. Pyongyang also failed to say whether it would allow South Korean trains to travel to Russia via North Korea after the restoration of South-North railway line.

Kim Ki-Hyun kimkihy@donga.com