A ministry press release said the railway, which begins in Seoul, could serve as a future connection to Wonsan, a key city on North Korea's eastern coast. The Unification Ministry's announcement comes despite North Korea's move in 2024 to blow up road and rail links across the heavily fortified border as part of its drive to redefine South Korea as a hostile state. Chung said the ministry would also seek regulatory changes allowing the fund to support border-area projects, peace economy initiatives, reunification activities and North Korea studies. He also said Indonesia had at one point attempted to arrange dialogue between the two Koreas, but North Korea did not take up the proposal. His remarks came after Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said last week that Lee had asked whether he could visit North Korea to help open dialogue.