South Korea has agreed to provide 500-thousand tons of rice to North Korea in an apparent reconciliatory move ahead of the upcoming six-party nuclear talks.

After marathon overnight negotiations capping three days of economic talks, the two Koreas also agreed to open an office for cross-border economic cooperation in the North Korean border city of Gaesong in September.

In a 12-point joint agreement, South Korea agreed to provide raw materials to help the North produce clothing, footwear and soap beginning next year. In return, Pyongyang agreed to provide investment guarantees for Seoul's development of the North's underground resources.

Other agreements include a trial run of two cross-border railways and adjacent roads in October and cooperation in maritime affairs with the first meeting of a relevant committee set to take place later this month.

The next round of inter-Korean economic cooperation talks will convene in late September.

The North Korean delegation arrived in Seoul on Saturday in accordance with an agreement reached at an inter-Korean Cabinet-level meeting held last month.