Prime Minister-designate Kim Suk-soo said Thursday South Korea hopes the planned link of two inter-Korean railways and roads will enable the national economy to develop on an equal footing and lessen costs for the unification of the two Koreas. In a speech delivered at a ceremony marking the National Foundationation Day, Kim reaffirmed the government's stance of making the utmost effort to bring about peace on the Korean Peninsula, achieve inter-Korean reconciliation and usher in an era of co-prosperity between the two Koreas. Kim said we hope to see the international society extend support to North Korea in its recent moves to open up to the outside world. Last month South and North Korea began clearing land mines inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) to reconnect two sets of railways and roads, severed since the 1950-1953 Korean War, through the heavily fortified DMZ. The two Koreas have agreed the Gyeongui rail line set to link Seoul to Sinuiju, a border city in the North, via Pyongyang will be completed by the end of this year. It is also hoped a road running parallel to the railway will be completed by next spring.