RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Immigration has become a reality between North and South Korea, so much so that new immigration check points officially open today for travelers crossing the heavily fortified border between the two Korea's.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: South Korea's Minister of Unification went into the permanent crossings as an important symbol of the move to increase exchanges between North and South Korea. He said the checkpoints will not restrict travelers but help to serve as helpers for safe and comfortable trips across the border.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Relations between the two Korea's have been on the mend since a summit in 2000. The first and only meeting of the two Korean leaders resulted in a number of important exchanges, including a joint industrial complex in a North Korean border city and a tourism project that allows thousands of South Korean's to visit a scenic North Korean mountain.
North and South Korea are opening new immigration checkpoints along their common border. Relations between the two countries have warmed significantly since a summit in 2000. Ties between the two were severed during the Korean War.