S Korean parliament to propose railway co-op with DPRK

SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's lawmakers reportedly plan to propose railway cooperation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Wednesday.

The Land Transport and Maritime Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, comprising 29 lawmakers, plans to send a letter to the DPRK through a communications channel at the truce village of Panmunjum, Yonhap News Agency reported.

In the letter, lawmakers suggest a joint on-site inspection of inter-Korean railways by delegations from South Korean parliament and the DPRK's Supreme People's Assembly as part of an effort to expand railway cooperation between the two sides.

The proposal is to contribute to peace-building on the Korean peninsula and reconciliation and cooperation between the two sides, Yonhap quoted the parliamentary committee chairman as saying.

Linking cross-border railways has been discussed over years by Seoul and Pyongyang as part of efforts to expand exchange and improve ties.