J-10
06-07-2004, 07:42 AM
North Korea opens border for commercial trade
Convoy of 15 trucks delivers sand for construction in South
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040604/040604_koreas_convoy_hmed_4a.hmedium.jpg
South Korean trucks are seen at the Demilitarized Zone, north of the inter-Korean border, as they return home carrying sand from North Korea.
The Associated Press
Updated: 7:32 a.m. ET June 04, 2004DORASAN OBSERVATION POST, South Korea - A convoy of 15 South Korean dump trucks rumbled across the heavily fortified border Friday, returning home with North Korean sand in a symbolic trip that raised hopes for breaching a Cold War frontier for the sake of trade.
advertisement
North Korea has been extremely reluctant to open its land border with South Korea. The Koreas remains divided following the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty. Their border is guarded by barbed wires, battle-ready military units, and mine fields.
Friday's truckloads were yet another sign of North Korea's willingness to open its border with South Korea for commercial profits. South Korean tourists are already crossing the eastern border to visit the North's scenic Diamond Mountain.
South Korea, suffering a shortage of construction materials, has imported over 33,000 tons of North Korean sand since 2002. But until Friday, all the law material shipments from North Korea came through China or by ship.
From (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5134884/)
Convoy of 15 trucks delivers sand for construction in South
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040604/040604_koreas_convoy_hmed_4a.hmedium.jpg
South Korean trucks are seen at the Demilitarized Zone, north of the inter-Korean border, as they return home carrying sand from North Korea.
The Associated Press
Updated: 7:32 a.m. ET June 04, 2004DORASAN OBSERVATION POST, South Korea - A convoy of 15 South Korean dump trucks rumbled across the heavily fortified border Friday, returning home with North Korean sand in a symbolic trip that raised hopes for breaching a Cold War frontier for the sake of trade.
advertisement
North Korea has been extremely reluctant to open its land border with South Korea. The Koreas remains divided following the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty. Their border is guarded by barbed wires, battle-ready military units, and mine fields.
Friday's truckloads were yet another sign of North Korea's willingness to open its border with South Korea for commercial profits. South Korean tourists are already crossing the eastern border to visit the North's scenic Diamond Mountain.
South Korea, suffering a shortage of construction materials, has imported over 33,000 tons of North Korean sand since 2002. But until Friday, all the law material shipments from North Korea came through China or by ship.
From (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5134884/)