Koreans hail first rail link since 1950s

THE two Koreas reached a reconciliation milestone yesterday when they started their first regular cross-border rail service since the 1950s war.

The South has been pushing for the reopening of the rail link to shuttle goods to an industrial park it operates just inside the North, where its manufacturing companies have access to cheap labour and land.

South Korea had restored the tracks across the landmine-strewn border but had struggled to win approval from its isolated northern neighbour.

A spokesman for the South's unification ministry said: "With this service, a clogged blood vessel between North and South Korea has become unblocked."

The first of the freight-only trains heading north was carrying raw materials for shoes.