South Korean trains venture over the border for first time in a decade to fix the North’s dilapidated railway

South Korea has sent trains across the world’s most heavily militarised border into North Korea for the first time in a decade. It’s part of a mission to eventually modernise the North’s dilapidated network and connect it with the South.

Six railcars carrying dozens of South Korean officials and engineers will inspect 1,200km (745 miles) of track over 18 days, according to the South’s unification ministry.

The survey required special permission from the United Nations to take prohibited goods into the North, which remains under heavy economic sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme.

South Korean officials will use the study to draw up plans for modernising the North’s ageing rail lines, most of which date from the early 20th century.