Putin uses visit to Seoul to push South Korea to Russia rail link
15 replies, posted
[IMG]http://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/486x302/public/2013/11/13/putinrussiaskorea.jpg?itok=rJRqwgyw[/IMG]
[QUOTE]Russian President Vladimir Putin was in South Korea yesterday, pushing a pet project for a new trading route linking Asia and Europe by rail that requires prying open North Korea.
The ambitious scheme envisages an "Iron Silk Road" uniting the rail networks of South and North Korea and connecting them to Europe via the Trans-Siberian Railway.
But it faces huge political obstacles. Speaking to a South Korea-Russia conference during his one-day visit, Putin acknowledged the difficulties.
"I hope political problems will be solved at an early date, as South Korea, North Korea and Russia will reap great economic benefits when it's completed," Putin said.
He urged South Korean investors to come on board, saying the project could help the "establishment of peace and stability".
Russia took a first step in September, when it completed a 54-kilometre section of track from its southeast border town of Khasan to the North Korean port of Rajin.
Located in North Korea's far northeast, where its borders and those of Russia and China converge, Rajin offers a warm-water port for the nation's two giant neighbours. Putin's desire is to see the rail link extended through North Korea and all the way down to the southern South Korean port of Busan.
Media reports say Russia is looking for South Korea to take a 34 per cent share in the project, with Moscow holding 36 per cent and Pyongyang 30 per cent.
Steelmaker Posco, train operator Korail, and Hyundai Maritime have been suggested as possible members of a consortium to take on the South Korean share.
Professor Andrei Lankov, a Russian expert on North Korea who teaches at Seoul's Kookmin University, said: "The idea itself makes perfect sense from a trade and economic viewpoint.[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1355338/putin-uses-visit-seoul-push-korea-russia-rail-link[/url]
This sounds like it could be a really good thing for the relationships between South and Best korea.
I can completely see the SK concerns. There'd have to be so much monitoring of it and in some cases, in the face of an invasion. Boom, they're there.
Truly a fascinating concept, and an endeavor worthy of pursuing for the prosperity of mankind.
[QUOTE=Paul McCartney;42945680]I can completely see the SK concerns. There'd have to be so much monitoring of it and in some cases, in the face of an invasion. Boom, they're there.[/QUOTE]
Invade in some armoured train tanks?
[t]http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints-depot-restricted/trains/trains-n-q/nr_51_german_heavy_armored_train-40231.jpg[/t]
[QUOTE=Sir_takeslot;42945581]This sounds like it could be a really good thing for the relationships between South and Best korea.[/QUOTE]
Well, since South Koreans would have to go through Best Korea, I think the government is mostly opposed due to the huge risk of their oppressed people defecting off the trains when they see how good it is in the north.
Apparently there [I]was[/I] a rail link from South Korea to North Korea, it went to the Kaesong Industrial Park, but it was dismantled because most trips to from NK, the train was empty.
What I'm wondering is how they'll handle the differences in track type. The Trans-Siberian Railway uses the 1524mm Russian gauge while South Korea and most of Europe use the 1435mm Standard gauge.
[QUOTE=Paul McCartney;42945680]I can completely see the SK concerns. There'd have to be so much monitoring of it and in some cases, in the face of an invasion. Boom, they're there.[/QUOTE]
If NK invades they'll just bomb the fuck out of the railway.
[QUOTE=mdeceiver79;42945748]Invade in some armoured train tanks?
[t]http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints-depot-restricted/trains/trains-n-q/nr_51_german_heavy_armored_train-40231.jpg[/t][/QUOTE]
Just tip them over somehow :v:
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;42945863]Apparently there [I]was[/I] a rail link from South Korea to North Korea, it went to the Kaesong Industrial Park, but it was dismantled because most trips to from NK, the train was empty.
What I'm wondering is how they'll handle the differences in track type. The Trans-Siberian Railway uses the 1524mm Russian gauge while South Korea and most of Europe use the 1435mm Standard gauge.[/QUOTE]
Perhaps not a direct rail link then, but a link to a station where one can transfer to another train that will continue your journey.
Or in the case of shipping, which is what this seems centred around, a link to a railyard with a crane to transfer goods, though that seems like it'd be a bit of a bitch.
[QUOTE=mdeceiver79;42945748]Invade in some armoured train tanks?
[t]http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints-depot-restricted/trains/trains-n-q/nr_51_german_heavy_armored_train-40231.jpg[/t][/QUOTE]
How the fuck does that turn its wheels? It would just derail because it's being forced to stay straight like that.
[QUOTE=Kickin Balls;42952466]How the fuck does that turn its wheels? It would just derail because it's being forced to stay straight like that.[/QUOTE]
[t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/StreetCarSRM.jpg/800px-StreetCarSRM.jpg[/t]
Not really. Only if it was really long and that's not that long.
[QUOTE=Reshy;42952532][t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/StreetCarSRM.jpg/800px-StreetCarSRM.jpg[/t]
Not really. Only if it was really long and that's not that long.[/QUOTE]
Is this a subtle joke on how everything in Sasktchewan is straight?
[QUOTE=Paul McCartney;42945680]I can completely see the SK concerns. There'd have to be so much monitoring of it and in some cases, in the face of an invasion. Boom, they're there.[/QUOTE]
i find it highly unlikely(like less than 1% chance) that nk will ever invade the south. the country is terminal. wars are stressful activities, politically and economically. a full blown war would cause the country to fucking implode.
[QUOTE=Paul McCartney;42945680]I can completely see the SK concerns. There'd have to be so much monitoring of it and in some cases, [I][B]in the face of an invasion[/B][/I]. Boom, they're there.[/QUOTE]
They wouldnt dare, not with it being a staunch US ally and the bases there.
snip
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