June 15, 2003	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 14, 1424

SEOUL, June 14: Despite tensions over North Korea’s nuclear programme, South and North Korea on Saturday held a ceremonial restart in construction of a rail link.

Technicians joined rails from both sides of the Korean demilitarized zone that separates the two countries as approximately 100 delegates from each side applauded.

Both states want cross-border rail travel —- which came to a halt during the Korea War of 1950-53 - to recommence this year.

“Removing barbed-wire fences and mines, the nation’s artery has been re-linked,” said the leader of the South Korean delegation, Cho Myong Kyun of the Ministry of Unification.

Kim Byong Chil, the leader of the North Korean delegation, added that reunification of the Koreas would be a near prospect if the two neighbours continued a spirit of cooperation.

The historic ceremonial inauguration of the rail and highway lines took place in September, 2002, and Saturday’s ceremony, coming a day before the third year anniversary of the join summit declaration of June 15, 2000, carries great import.

The celebrations were planned for March, but were postponed due to the Iraq war and the nuclear controversy with North Korea. At South Korea’s request, the ceremonies on Saturday were kept small.

Next to the joint tourism project at the Kumgang mountains on North Korea’s east coast, the railway line is the most visible symbol of rapprochement between the two Koreas.

The western rail line is to connect Seoul with the North Korean town of Sinuiju in the northwest via Pyongyang.

In addition, North and South Korea agreed Saturday to allow direct contacts between divided families for several days at the end of June. According to the Red Cross in Seoul, the reunions are planned for June 27 to the July 2 at Kumgang mountains.

WARNING: The United States, Japan and South Korea on Friday urged North Korea not to inflame global tensions over its suspected nuclear weapons programme and vowed to seek a peaceful solution to the crisis.

The trio also expressed concern over alleged drug smuggling and money counterfeiting by North Korean entities, amid allegations that the Stalinist state is involved in smuggling missile parts to countries such as Iran.

The calls came in a final communique issued after a two-day meeting of senior officials from each nation in Honolulu, Hawaii to which came after Pyongyang admitted publicly for the first time that it was seeking nuclear weapons.

Washington, Tokyo and Seoul — which have been at odds over how to handle the crisis — said that they would not tolerate Pyongyang’s possession of nuclear weapons but stressed they would seek a peaceful, diplomatic solution.

“The three delegations urged North Korea not to exacerbate the situation,” following warnings by the US, Japanese and South Korean leaders for North Korea to pull back on its weapons programme.—dpa/AFP