The prime ministers of South and North Korea wrapped up their three-day talks with a series of agreements on inter-Korean cooperation, South Korean Unification Ministry Spokesman Kim Nam- sik said Friday.

 

Under the agreements, South and North Korea will conduct cooperation in economy, culture, humanitarian assistance, health and environment.

 

South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and his North Korean counterpart Kim Yong-il agreed to launch cross-border railway cargo service in December.

 

"The South (Korea) and the North (Korea) agreed to begin cargo railway services between Munsan and Bongdong on Dec. 11," said a joint document signed by the two sides.

 

Officials of the two sides will launch working-level talks in North Korea's border city of Kaesong next Tuesday to finalize the agreement on the cross-border train service, the document said.

 

The two prime ministers also agreed on the establishment of a joint economic committee, headed by deputy prime ministers, to deal with economic cooperation issues. They agreed to hold the first meeting of the committee in Seoul on Dec. 4-6.

 

South and North Korea will begin to work for the establishment of a joint fishing area near the disputed sea border in the Yellow Sea in 2008, according to the agreement reached at the talks.

 

According to the agreement, the next round of the inter-Korean prime ministerial talks will be held in Pyongyang within six months.

 

The North Korean prime minister will return to Pyongyang in the afternoon after attending a luncheon hosted by South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.

 

This is the first time that South and North Korea have held prime ministerial talks in 15 years.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 16, 2007)