North Korea Finally Wants to Get Its Train Game On
In the autumn of 2018, the heavyweights behind Kim Jong Un’s regime announced they’re hungry for a high‑speed rail network that could rival Europe and tech‑savvy South Korea. The big question: can the reclusive DPRK actually pull the train out of the railroad mud and onto friendly tracks?
Kim Upgrades His Rail Wishlist
- In a mix of swagger and strategy, Kim Jong Un is actively courting partners from South Korea and France to bring bullet‑train tech to Pyongyang.
- South Korean engineers are already mapping potential routes that could slash travel times across the peninsula.
- The rail might just become the sweet spot that opens doors for trade, tourism, and maybe – just maybe – a hint of normalcy.
Paris Chat—Alstom, Anyone?
A senior North Korean diplomat bragged to the French Senate that the country is keen to work with Alstom, the French firm behind France’s famous TGVs, and SNCF, the national rail operator. He claimed sanctions “don’t touch” the railway sector.
- Reality Check: Alstom denies any talks; SNCF says the idea is “not conceivable” given the geopolitical heat‑up.
- United Nations remains on standby, uncertain how a “non‑commercial public utility” classification would play out.
Old‑School Dreams Resurface
Kim Il Sung once predicted traffic across Korea, China and Russia could rake in $1.5 billion each year. Fast‑track fantasies spark again when Kim Jong Un publicly gushed over the slick Korean bullet trains during a summit in April.
- Following an Olympic field trip, he’s cozied up with the notion that a North Korean bullet train could run the region at speeds no longer comparable to the sluggish state of the current network.
- Experts estimate a project of this size could take five years to finish and cost around $20 billion.
Economic Outlook: Money‑Making Tracks?
South Korea estimates that a cross‑Korean rail could reduce freight transit times by about half, generating hefty transit fees. Vietnam’s own railgoers report their trains travel at an average of 35 km/h – a pace that a South Korean KTX would beat hands‑down.
- Korea’s budget for border‑modernization rose 46 % next year, allocating ₩504 billion (roughly $450 m) to road and rail upgrades.
- Customers: Hyundai Rotem and other local train giants saw a jump in share price after this announcement.
- While the potential is big, challenges remain – sanctions, electricity shortages, and political politics that turn everything into a “military secret.”
What’s The Bottom Line?
The ambition is clear: a neon‑lit, cross‑Korean bullet train that connects South Korea, China and Russia with a network that could make both Koreas boomerang from isolation. It’s a game‑changer, but the cost, logistics and the ever‑present UN sanctions make the final signal a bit of a long‑shot. The story is still under development, and whether the third world meets the high‑speed world remains to be seen.
