Discussions on the project to connect the Siberian line with those that can operate between the two Koreas have been under way for more than a decade, although no major progress has been made due to geopolitical obstacles, particularly North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

In April, the leaders of South and North Korea held a summit and agreed to, among other things, take steps to connect and modernize inter-Korean railways and roads as part of broader reconciliation and cooperation programs.

Kang Hoon-sik, another lawmaker from the same party, proposed a raft of bills to lay the legal groundwork to allow nearly a dozen public firms' participation in inter-Korean projects.

Rep. Kim Kyung-hyup has also proposed a bill aimed at strengthening private-level exchanges, especially between nonprofit organizations. (Yonhap)