S Korea defies US diktat, continues efforts to strengthen inter-Korean relations

South Korea is continuing its efforts to improve relations with North Korea, with its Unification ministry announcing on Monday that the countries are in talks to launch joint railway inspections this week.

This comes despite a note of caution from US Secretary Michael Pompeo who had asked South Korea to not let improvement in inter-Korean elections surpass denuclearisation efforts made by North Korea - pointing out the direct correlation between both the developments.

The inspections would be launched in a bid to modernise and connect railways of the Koreas between their borders, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The Unification ministry had earlier announced that efforts would be made by the neighbouring countries to modernise underground communication lines across Panmunjom for military communications.

This comes in the wake of UN making an exemption in North Korean sanctions for South Korea to undertake this effort.