President Moon: "North Korea's Missile Provocation Raises Tensions... We Must Not Let Go of the Thread of Dialogue" (Comprehensive)

The First Event of the New Year, Donghae Line Gangneung-Jejin Railway Construction Groundbreaking Ceremony... "Peace is Gangwon's Economy and Future"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] President Moon Jae-in stated on the afternoon of the 5th at the groundbreaking ceremony for the 'Donghae Line Gangneung-Jejin Railway Construction' held at Jejin Station in Goseong-gun, Gangwon Province, "This morning, North Korea test-fired an unidentified short-range projectile. This has raised tensions and there are concerns that the stagnation in inter-Korean relations could deepen."

President Moon said, "However, we must not let go of the thread of dialogue in order to fundamentally overcome this situation. North Korea must also make more sincere efforts for dialogue," adding, "When South and North Korea work together and build trust, one day peace will suddenly come close to us."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon shared his thoughts on visiting the site of the inter-Korean railway connection in Gangwon Province as his first field event of the new year. He said, "Fifteen years ago, in 2007, the sound of the pilot train whistle heading from this Jejin Station to Geumgangsan Station was heard. If the South-North train connection is restored someday, the path to peace will also come much closer."

President Moon explained, "(Since the promise of inter-Korean railway connection) there has been no substantial progress in the project. However, our will has not changed," adding, "Now, if the railway is laid on the Gangneung-Jejin section, not only will the inter-Korean railway connection be realized, but our dream toward the continent will also become more concrete."

President Moon said, "The Donghae Line is an economic railway. It takes about 50 minutes from Jejin Station to Geumgangsan Station. This will lay the foundation for resuming tourism cooperation with North Korea," and added, "Wonsan, Dancheon, Chongjin, and Rason on the east coast are North Korea's representative industrial zones. If South and North cooperate, the East Sea Rim energy and resource belt will be realized," expressing his expectations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Furthermore, President Moon said, "Starting from Busan, passing through Gangwon Province and North Korea's Rason, a railway route to Eurasia and the European continent will also open," and added, "When South and North Korea resume dialogue and the irreversible door to peace on the Korean Peninsula opens, inter-Korean economic cooperation will become a new breakthrough for our economic development."

President Moon stated, "The government will strengthen its commitment to economic cooperation by building the southern section of the Korean Peninsula integrated railway network and prepare in advance," pledging, "We will also proactively prepare for continental railway connections."

President Moon said, "Gangwon Province has long been preparing to become a special peace autonomous region. Peace is the economy and future of Gangwon," and concluded, "The day Jejin Station is bustling with people and logistics, complete peace will finally come to the Korean Peninsula."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.