Trains Cross Border After Ceremony
By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
The weather could not be better for Thursday's historical test run of two trains crossing the South and North borders. Enjoying the blue sky and late spring breeze, participants from the two Koreas held a ceremony to mark the historic event at both departing stations in the South and North.
The official ceremony at Munsan Station in the South was attended by top officials from the two countries including Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung and his North Korean counterpart Kwon Ho-ung along with news media from home and abroad.
Everyone seemed excited to celebrate the meaningful move toward reunification. Hundreds of firecrackers were set off with big advertising balloons covering up the sky under the music by a drum band.
Minister Lee held each of the North Korean officials' hands who came to the station at 10:30 a.m., thanking each of them for coming.
After the greeting with Lee, the North Korean representatives walked to the main event venue, receiving a warm reception from South Korean crowds.
The ceremony had speeches by South and North Korean representatives.
In his speech, Lee said, ``As it has taken us so long, it is quite overwhelming to be here. The railways will serve as a path to prosperity and reconciliation.''
On the stage were two model train sets, emphasizing the importance of the test run. The one on the right side of the stage was a rusty train while the one on the left was a new train.
After the ceremony, a train carrying 150 South and North Korean passengers departed at 11:30 p.m. from Munsan Station in the South for Kaesong Station in the North on a 27.3-kilometer track and passed the border around 12:10 p.m.
At the same time, on the east coast another train left Geumgangsan Station in the North for the South's Jejin Station on a 25.5-kilometer track after a congratulatory ceremony in the North.
