South and North Korea have agreed to jointly preserve mural paintings from the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo.

Kang Man-gil, head of a state committee for projects marking the 60th year of Korea's liberation from Japan, said in a news conference Monday that the project is part of inter-Korean efforts to celebrate the historic occasion.

Kang said he reached an agreement with a historians' association in North Korea during his visit there early this month.

He said that following two inspections this year, the project will begin next year.

The two Koreas will also hold a seminar marking the 100th year of the 1905 treaty that forcibly annexed the peninsula to Japan. Foreign experts are expected to participate in the event.