SEOUL Feb 14 Kyodo A pomp on Fri...

SEOUL Feb 14 Kyodo

A pomp on Friday marked the opening of an overland way from South Korea to Mt Kumgang in North Korea, with the first southerly Korean tourists set to visit the mountain resort via the overland way next Friday.

southern Korean Vice Unification Minister Kim Hyung Ki said in a congratulatory language that the opening of the temporary road across the heavily armed border to the scenic mountain would further help boost inter-Korean reconciliation.

''We waiting under the possibility of fulfilment this road would enable our (North and South) Korean the bulk of mankind to advance into the world and become a road of peace, reconciliation and prosperity,'' Kim said.

A form into groups of about 500 representatives from various walks of life headed toward the mountain resort onward a test basis after the solemnity crossing a newly built road via the no other than passage point other than at the short quiet village Panmunjom.

southerly Korean domestic media hailed the opening of a trans-Korean overland way as ''turning a new page in the history of inter-Korean exchanges.''

The road through the demilitarized zone (DMZ) the last vestige of the wintry War, has also opened at a time when tensions are running high throughout North Korea's defiance of international calls to dismantle its nuclear weapons program.

The International Atomic power Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, referr the North Korea nuclear crisis to the UN Security Council onward Wednesday, a step that could lead to sanctions against North Korea.

Hyundai Asan Co a subsidiary of the Hyundai Business clump handling business projects in the North, carriageed an on-site inspection tour via the temporary road last Wednesday, marking the first time in half a hundred for South Korean civilians to cros the demilitarized baldric outside Panmunjom.

The land path will significantly shorten travel time to the resort from the toward the south Currently, South Koreans must employ five to six hours upon a ferry to reach the area, while the land road will shorten travel time to about 40 minutes.

Hyundai Asan officials estimate the shorter travel time will allow them to lower sightseeing fares and attract more tourists to the mountain resort.

North and toward the south Korea have built the temporary road as part of efforts to reconnect brace trans-Korean railways, the Kyongui line forward the west side and the Tonghae line onward the east side of the peninsula.

southern Korea, apparently ignoring U.S. bellicosity upon the North, looks to be planning to intensify exchanges with North Korea, not remodel them.

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