Cross-Border Railway Test to Go Ahead Beware of Undue Optimism Over Inter-Korean Rail Link Kim Dae-jung to Talk Reunification in Pyongyang Inter-Korean Railway Trial Run Cancelled N.Korea Cancels Cross-Border Train Test Why Did N.Korea Cancel the Train Test Run? S.Korea to Supply North with US$80 million in Materials

The North already went back on its word to test cross-border railways twice before because the military did not consent to guaranteeing the safety of people involved, in June 2004 and in July last year. Despite the precedents, the government on Tuesday insisted that the test runs can go ahead without the military's consent and delivered a list of Southern passengers to the North. It said the military won’t oppose a plan that has been agreed on so many levels. That was wishful thinking blurted out in complete ignorance of what the North would do only 24 hours later.

The cancellation comes a mere two weeks after the president renewed his overtures to the North on May 9 offering "many concessions” and “substantial assistance." On May 14, the unification minister told us it was “desirable” to hold an inter-Korean summit within the year." On May 17, he said provided the North “gives a reason the people can agree on, the entire W1.2 trillion (US$1.2 billion) of the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund can be used." On May 22, he expressed certainty that “a turning point for peace on the Korean Peninsula and inter-Korean relations will come within the year." That mating dance gave the misleading impression that a steady confidential dialogue has been going on between the South and North.

But not even an inter-Korean accord to test cross-border railways three years after they were reconnected at a cost of W700 billion (US$700 million) was to be kept. It is sad to see our government so deflated after the overblown optimism of the last few weeks, huffing and puffing that North Korea “is entirely responsible for the cancellation of the test runs.”