Historic Train Crosses Korean Border

(NEWSER) - North and South Korea agreed today to allow the first train crossing of their heavily guarded border in over half a century. Two tracks have been reconnected for the test run on Thursday, the first time rail service has linked the countries since the middle of the Korean War. More»

Freight link to strengthen economic ties

(NEWSER) - In their latest step toward closer ties, the leaders of North and South Korea have agreed to establish a cross-border train system to strengthen economic connections. Beginning in December freight trains will follow a 16-mile track through the heavily patrolled border frontier to a joint industrial complex in North Korea's Kaesong. Two dozen South Korean companies employ some 20,000 North Koreans in the factory complex. More»

Refuses to apologize for shelling South, sinking ship

(NEWSER) - North Korea packed up its toys and went home today, abruptly ending low-level military talks between the two Koreas in Panmunjom, reports the New York Times. Pressed by Seoul military officials to apologize for shelling Yeonpyeong in November and sinking a warship last March, the North “unilaterally walked away from the table and out of the meeting room,” according to a South Korean official. The talks' failure leaves a giant question mark over the topic of more substantive talks—much less six-party talks about Pyongyang's nuclear program. More»

Look to set stage for higher-level talks later

(AP) - Colonels from North and South Korea held talks inside the heavily guarded Demilitarized Zone today in the rivals' first official dialogue since the North's deadly artillery barrage of a South Korean island in November. In the border village of Panmunjom, the two sides worked to set a date and logistics for higher-level defense talks aimed at discussing the two attacks last year, according to South Korea's Defense Ministry. More»

Seoul radio cites suspicion of foul play

(NEWSER) - A train full of birthday presents en route to North Korea’s heir derailed this month—but was it a simple accident, or sabotage? A South Korean radio station that often cites Northern sources reports that a train departing from Sinuiju and headed for Pyongyang derailed on Dec. 11, creating an "emergency situation." The station's source noted that track wear could have been the problem, reports Reuters , but said that "the extent of damage to the tracks and the timing of the incident points to a chance that someone intentionally damaged the tracks.” More»