朝韩两国举行了一项仪式，这标志着改造朝鲜铁路并与韩国对接的工程启动。
Each side sent representatives to the ceremony, in the border town of Kaesong.
朝韩双方派代表出席了在边境小镇开城举行的仪式。
Last month, the two Koreas carried out a joint inspection of parts of the North's railway system, which they hope to connect someday with the South. The goal is to link the countries' railroads and thereby increase economic ties.
上个月，两国对朝鲜部分铁路系统进行了联合考察，希望有朝一日将这部分铁路同韩国对接，目的是连接两国的铁路从而增加经济联系。
The move is one of several efforts agreed to by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the president of South Korea, Moon Jae-in.
此举是朝鲜领导人金正恩和韩国总统文在寅达成一致的几项举措之一。
Progress linked to nuclear talks
进展跟核谈判相关
Any progress on the project, however, will require changes to United States-led economic actions against North Korea. They are designed to punish the North Korean government for its nuclear activities.
然而该项目的任何进展都需要改变美国主导的对朝鲜的经济制裁。这些制裁旨在惩罚朝鲜政府的核活动。
The railway inspection had been delayed for months because of concerns about United Nations sanctions on the North. The U.N. Security Council gave the two Koreas special permission for the study.
由于担心联合国对朝鲜的制裁，铁路考察已经推迟了数月。联合国安理会特别批准了朝韩两国进行这项考察。
North Korea has voiced displeasure with the slow progress on projects aimed at building ties between the two sides. South Korea hopes to carry out additional inspections before further details of the project are released. Work depends on progress in nuclear talks with the North.
朝鲜对旨在建立朝韩双方关系的项目进展缓慢表示不满。韩国希望在进一步细节公布之前进行额外考察，这项工作取决于同朝鲜核谈判的进展。
The United States and its allies have called for restrictions to remain in place until North Korea takes clear steps toward giving up its nuclear weapons and missiles.
美国及其盟友呼吁在朝鲜采取明确步骤放弃核武器和导弹之前要继续实施制裁。
For the ground-breaking ceremony on Wednesday, a South Korean train traveled to Kaesong. It was carrying about 100 people, including government officials and lawmakers. Members of families displaced by the Korean War in the early 1950s also were on the train.
在周三举行的奠基仪式上，一辆韩国火车驶往开城，车上载有100人左右，包括政府官员和议员。20世纪50年代初朝鲜战争的离散家属也在这趟火车上。
South Korea's unification ministry reported that officials from the United Nations, China, Russia and Mongolia joined the North Korean delegation.
韩国统一部报道称，联合国、中国、俄罗斯和蒙古的官员加入了朝鲜代表团的行列。
After the event, North and South Korea agreed to carry out additional railway inspections. Both Koreas said they would work closely with the United States and the U.N. to gain support for the project and deal with concerns over sanctions.
仪式之后，朝韩双方同意进行额外铁路考察。两国表示将与美国及联合国密切合作，以获得对该项目的支持，并解决对制裁的担忧。
Lee Eugene, a spokeswoman for the unification ministry, spoke with reporters. "We plan to hold detailed negotiations with the North to coordinate the specific levels we want to achieve in the modernization of railways and roads and how to carry out the project," she said.
韩国统一部发言人李尤金（Lee Eugene）同记者进行了交流。他说：“我们计划同朝鲜进行具体商谈，就我们实现铁路和公路现代化具体程度以及如何实施该项目进行协调。”
However, experts say investment in the project could take time even with steps toward nuclear weapons removal and easing of restrictions.
然而专家表示，即使采取了废除核武器和放松制裁的措施，对该项目的投资也需要时间。
Jung Dae-jin is a professor with the Ajou Institute of Unification in South Korea. He noted that the project would increase exchanges between the two governments.
Jung Dae-jin是韩国亚洲统一研究所的教授。他指出，该项目将会提升两国政府之间的交流。
But he said the future of Moon's plans for connecting the railways rests with North Korea.
但他表示文在寅对接两国铁路的计划的未来取决于朝鲜。
"We need to see the New Year's address by Kim Jong Un," Jung said. He added that the global community needs to see measures taken by the North toward removing nuclear weapons for progress on railways to go forward.
他说：“我们还得看金正恩的新年致辞。”他补充说，国际社会需要看到朝鲜采取废除核武器的措施，才会推动该铁路项目取得进展。
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