Blaming America’s sanctions for starvation in the North? What crap. The sanctions have had very little effect because the North has never produced enough to even meet the minimum quota for exports set by the EU back in the 90’s.

“There is only one problem. A very vulnerable section of that line would be running through an area run by a meglomanical, thieving, dishonest, agreement breaking, blackmailing bastard. The more successful the line is, the higher will be the extortion payments.”

My sentiments exactly.

http://www.pyongyangrollercoaster.com/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asi.....664091.stm

But hey, from a “cost of security” perspective, you can’t really fault the North Korean military for charging so much. They know well what can happen when “the train comes to town.”

The last time it came to Kaesong, it must have been a “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” type of moment (Kaesong was part of ROK back then, just below the pre-war 38th parallel border):

“…[On the morning of Sun 25 June 1950] Kaesong, the ancient capital of Korea, lay two miles south of the Parallel on the main Seoul-P’yongyang highway and railroad…. In Kaesong the northbound main rail line linking Seoul-Pyongyang-Manchuria turned west for six miles and then, short of the Yesong River, bent north again across the Parallel.

Capt. Joseph R. Darrigo, assistant adviser to the ROK 12th Regiment, 1st Division, was the only American officer on the 38th Parallel the morning of 25 June. He occupied quarters in a house at the northeast edge of Kaesong, just below Songak-san. At daybreak, approximately 0500, Captain Darrigo awoke to the sound of artillery fire. Soon shell fragments and small arms fire were hitting his house. He jumped from bed, pulled on a pair of trousers, and, with shoes and shirt in hand, ran to the stairs where he was met by his Korean houseboy running up to awaken him. The two ran out of the house, jumped into Darrigo’s jeep, and drove south into Kaesong. They encountered no troops, but the volume of fire indicated an enemy attack. Darrigo decided to continue south on the Munsan-ni Road to the Imjin River.

At the circle in the center of Kaesong small arms fire fell near Darrigo’s jeep. Looking off to the west, Darrigo saw a startling sight — half a mile away, at the railroad station which was in plain view, North Korean soldiers were unloading from a train of perhaps fifteen cars.

Some of these soldiers were already advancing toward the center of town. Darrigo estimated there were from two to three battalions, perhaps a regiment, of enemy troops on the train. The North Koreans obviously had relaid during the night previously pulled up track on their side of the Parallel and had now brought this force in behind the ROK [battalions] north of Kaesong, while their artillery barrage and other infantry attacked frontally from Songak-san. The 13th and 15th Regiments of the N.K. 6th Division delivered the attack on Kaesong.

Most of the ROK 12th Regiment troops at Kaesong and Yonan were killed or captured. Only two companies of the regiment escaped and reported to the division headquarters the next day. Kaesong was entirely in enemy hands by 0930. Darrigo, meanwhile, sped south out of Kaesong, reached the Imjin River safely, and crossed over to Munsan-ni…”

pp 22-23
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/boo.....1/Sn03.htm

It could, but even so, it still may have almost zero effect on unification or human rights or the building of infrastructure, as wjk claims (I can’t see how a heavily guarded rail line leads to the building of infrastructure). It sounds like it could possibly turn out to be a win-win money grab for the ROK and KJI. If they can possibly work it that KJI’s son can transition to the leadership, then it might be possible to kick unification even further down the road.

People are envisioning the opening of this rail link as an opening up of North Korea but this isn’t necessarily the case. These lines could be used solely for industrial~commercial purposes, be heavily monitored and guarded. There is nothing saying the opening of the railway will allow droves of foreign tourists access to North Korean people~territory.

North Korea could charge 20 bucks a container running through DPRK and still it would be a viable alternative for the current shipping situation for those who wish to deliver goods to Europe~Asia or opposite.

If the DPRK gets nasty, the West can simply revert to the old system and divert shipping through more traditional Chinese ports like before. In other words, opening this rail (for industrial/shipping applications only) could provide a steady source of revenue for both ROK and DPRK.

Do you honestly think his son will have a fat chance of ruling?

I don’t.

I think it’s prudent to milk this deal now, and plant the infranstructure necessary in North Korea.

Otherwise, it’s a hell of a job building North Korea from the dark ages.

This is the best way for both countries.

Start with industry that can’t be much use for weapons related stuff.

Let the trains run. Even if they just run thru China, it’s worth it.

Once the Norks see some kind of steady fee being generated from business operations based on legit profits, instead of lump sum bribes, they’ll buy into it too and let the trains run. In the mean time, hopefully Kim Jong Il will die of heart disease.