05 May 2009
China and N. Korea settle railway deal
China and North Korea have signed a deal to set up a railway system that would link the two countries, in a bid to boost the tourism industry in both nations.
The line will operate between Tunmen City in the Chinese Jilin province and the North Korean province of North Hamgyong. Two travel agencies from China and North Korea will run the operations of the route. The two agencies are planning to conduct an inauguration ceremony for the test operations of the route before the end of the month.
The deal to launch a tourism rail route between the two long-term allies follows widespread appeals for UN sanctions against the communist North Korea made a few weeks before. Calls from international communities came after Pyongyang set off a long-range rocket; an act considered by many as a long-range missile test.
In April, the UN Security Council slammed North Korea’s launch as a violation of a UN prohibition. Pyongyang replied that it had launched a satellite.
China remains the communist ally of North Korea despite some disputes in the past, such as in 2006 when Pyongyang conducted a nuclear weapon test without the knowledge of Beijing.
China does not consider enforcement of UN sanctions as an option because of fears of weakening its relationship with its neighbour, which may result in a deluge of refugees into the country.
The efforts of the two countries are the latest sign of their active cross-border trade.
North Korea has said that it was no longer under an international disarmament agreement and would re-establish its facility that produces arms-grade plutonium. It also said that the nuclear talks between China, Japan, Russia, the US and the two Koreas are “useless”. |
