N. Korea-Russia railroad, port reconstruction begins

RASON, North Korea, Oct. 4 Kyodo - A ceremony was held Saturday in the northeastern North Korean city Rason to mark the start of a joint project by North Korea and Russia to reconstruct a railway linking the two countries and a North Korean port.

The project, part of an agreement reached between North Korean leader Kim Jong
Il and then Russian President Vladimir Putin during Kim's visit to the country
in 2001, is expected to boost shipment of goods once it is completed.
Reconstruction work covers the railway link between North Korea's Rajin station
and Russia's Khasan station and North Korea's Rajin port.
The ceremony was held at the Tumangang railway station, which is on the North
Korean side of the country's border with Russia. Among those present from North
Korea were Railways Minister Jon Kil Su and Vice Foreign Minister Kung Sok Ung.
Participants from Russia included Vladimir Yakunin, president of state-run
Russian Railways.