South Korea to resume railway project to North Korea in 2027

South Korea is set to revive a decade-old railway project aimed at connecting Seoul with Wonsan, a city in eastern North Korea. The Unification Ministry announced plans to recommence construction in 2027, with completion anticipated by 2029. This initiative, originally launched in 2015, was halted in 2016 following a significant downturn in cross-border relations.

Recent actions by North Korea, including the destruction of highways and railways along the heavily fortified border as part of its efforts to redefine South Korea as an enemy state, add a complex layer to this renewed push for connection. The ministry's policy plans emphasize peaceful conflict resolution and crisis management, alongside long-term goals for a nuclear-weapon-free Korean Peninsula and peace in Northeast Asia.

As part of its strategy to build peaceful coexistence, the ministry advocates for ceasing to refer to North Korea as the "main enemy." This shift in rhetoric is intended to help revive long-frozen inter-Korean relations. The ministry also plans to revise the rules of the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund to support peace economic zones and private-sector unification projects, signaling a renewed commitment to engagement.