Seoul and Moscow will reportedly form a bilateral committee to look into ways to launch a project to connect Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR) with one of the severed inter-Korean railways either the Kyongui or the Kyongwon line.

A government official said Monday that the committee will fully discuss the project as soon as it forms.

The project, raised by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Pyongyang last July, is expected to be given a major boost by the upcoming summit between President Kim Dae-jung and Putin, slated to be held in Seoul late this month.

The official said... the two sides recently agreed to the issue in principle. He said...during Putin's visit to Seoul, the two countries will strike an agreement at their economic committee meeting.

The railway connection committee will hold regular sessions chaired by ministers or vice ministers.

In preparation for the "Iron Silk Road" era, the government will also push for the involvement of the Organization for Collaboration of Railways (OSJD), a socialist railway cooperation body.