Officials visit NK for trans-Korea project
By Jun Ji-hyeA South Korean delegation arrived in North Korea’s northern port city of Rajin, Tuesday, to study the feasibility of a joint logistics project to transport coal from Russia and between the two Koreas.A train departing from Russia’s Vladivostok crossed the border into North Korea carrying a team of 20 government officials and corporate representatives from POSCO, Hyundai Merchant Marine and Korail, according to the Ministry of Unification.The three countries are now inspecting facilities ahead of the launch of the so-called Rajin-Khasan project, aimed at transporting bituminous coal produced in Western Siberia to South Korean ports through North Korea’s Rajin and Russia’s Khasan.The facilities have been tested successfully twice ― the South Korean firms previously received 45,000 tons and 140,000 tons of Russian bituminous coal through Khasan and Rajin.A third test is now underway.This time, 120,000 tons of bituminous coal will be transported to Rajin along a 54-kilometer railroad linking the North Korean city to Khasan.Then, ships will transp
