Two North Korean cargo ships on Sunday will pass through South Korean waters for the first time since the division of the Korean Peninsula in 1950.

The Jeju Province Maritime Police on Saturday said the 9,000-ton Daedonggang-ho and 2,750-ton Hwanggeumsan-ho will sail through the channel between the southern Jeju and Chuja islands Monday night.

Carrying salt, coal and other materials, the two ships will leave the North Korean port of Nampo Sunday afternoon and will head for Cheongjin, another port in the North.

During the three-day maritime talks that ended Wednesday, Seoul agreed to allow the North's commercial vessels to use the sea route between the southern coast and Jeju Island.

The new route will cut the travel time for North Korean ships by four and a half hours, save fuel costs and increase transportation safety.

Jeju police have worked out measures to ensure the unimpeded passage of the freighters and to deal with potential emergencies.

They will also send a welcoming message via radio to the two vessels on their safe and convenient passage through South Korean waters.