A groundbreaking ceremony has been held just north of the demilitarized zone on the Korean Peninsula. It's part of an ambitious project to modernize the DPRK's rail and road networks and re-connect them with the south. But without progress in denuclearization negotiations, regular trains won't be crossing the border any time soon. CGTN's Jack Barton has this report from the Demilitarized Zone.  

A South Korean train carrying about 100 passengers about to cross the demilitarized zone into the DPRK. On board: officials including the ministers for transport and unification as well as the last rail engineer to work on the line when Korea was still unified, and people from the last stop, Kaesong, who had not seen their home since the Korean War. The journey culminated in a groundbreaking ceremony marking the re-establishment of inter-Korean rail and road links, something pledged between President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un at their last summit after which an 18-day inter-Korean rail survey was carried out.

KIM HYUN-MEE SOUTH KOREAN TRANSPORT MINISTER "People and supplies will come and go through the routes and the interchange of cooperation in various fields, including culture, sports, tourism, forests, and health, will be encouraged."

For now, the reconnection remains symbolic due to tough sanctions. There was also initial concern in Washington the move would undermine sanctions and denuclearization diplomacy.

JACK BARTON DMZ "South Korea first attempted to send a train across that bridge to the DPRK back in August, but it was blocked by the US-led UN Command, which controls the southern portion of the DMZ. Since then the United States, as well as the US, decided to get on board the initiative."

The UN waived some sanctions, so the ceremony and prior survey could take place. It was a powerful moment for people like 86-year-old Kim Keum-ok, who has lived in the south since being separated from her family during the war.

KIM KEUM-OK SEPARATED FROM FAMILY DURING KOREAN WAR "It feels great that I'm back in my hometown. There's nothing I can compare this to. I've always dreamt of coming back here while still alive. It makes me so emotional that I finally came back to where I used to live."

The U.S. insists denuclearization will need to begin in earnest for trains to ply the inter-Korean rail network, which has the potential to connect with Western Europe via Russia, China and Mongolia, which, along with the United Nations, sent officials and diplomats to attend Wednesday's event. Jack Barton, CGTN at the Demilitarized Zone.