The first round of inter-Korean consultations on maritime cooperation has opened in North Korea’s border city of Gaesong.

For the next two days, maritime officials from the two Koreas will discuss technical issues surrounding the inter-Korean naval hotline including operation procedures, operation hours and repair work in the event of technical glitches.

Naval authorities of the two Koreas will use the telephone and fax hotline to prevent accidental armed clashes at their shared western sea border, notify each other of maritime emergencies or accidents, or request approval for the passage of vessels in each other's territorial waters in emergencies.

The cable communications network was installed along the cross-border Gyeongui Railway early last month in accordance with a bilateral agreement struck in June of last year at inter-Korean military talks.