An Historic Inter-Korean Trip

It was only a 25 kilometer trip. By today's standards, it wouldn't even be worth buying the tickets for such a short jaunt. But in today's global reality, the 25 kilometers marks a historic move to potentially put the cold war to bed for good. Yesterday, Korean people from either side of the demilitarized zone crossed into each others respective side of the divide to mark the first train trip between North and South Korea since the truce between the two sides was negotiated in 1953. It's a trip that was some 17 years in the making, and marks a new milestone in inter-Korean relations. So is this the beginning of the end of a divided Korea? And what other efforts are underway to help ease the isolation of the North?

Ni hao, you're listening to  People In the Know, China's only English-language political current affairs program, online at www.crienglish.com here on China Radio International. In the wake of yesterday's historic train trip between North and South Korea, we'll talk inter-Korean relations. We'll get both a Korean and Chinese view of the issue. So let's get started.

A landmark railway journey across the border between North and South Korea are nearing completion on Thursday, with hopes that one day the tracks will meet Russia's Trans-Siberian Railroad. [Photo: Xinhuanet/AFP]

First, we tap the Korean perspective on North-South relations. For this, we're joined on the line from Seoul by Mr. Yong Ho Park, Researcher with the Korea Institute for National Unification.

(Dialogue with Park)

When we come back, we'll talk about inter-Korean affairs from a Chinese perspective.

Ni hao, you're listening to People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at www.crienglish.com here on China Radio International. I'm Paul James in Beijing. In this edition of our show, we're talking about the first train trip this week between North and South Korea since the end of the Korean War. Let's take a look at this now from a Chinese perspective. We're joined on the line by Mr. Liu Ming, Korea expert with the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

(Dialogue with Liu)

A landmark railway journey across the border between North and South Korea are nearing completion on Thursday, with hopes that one day the tracks will meet Russia's Trans-Siberian Railroad. [Photo: Xinhuanet/AFP]