The parliamentary committee on unification, foreign affairs and trade has approved a draft bill on inter-Korean relations.

After a long debate Tuesday, lawmakers agreed to use the names "South Korea" and "North Korea" in the draft as proposed by the ruling party instead of the main opposition Grand National Party's idea of "Korea" and "North Korea."

They also agreed to use as the country's title "Republic of Korea" in Article 1.

The bill defines inter-Korean relations not as bilateral but as special ties seeking unification as agreed in the 1991 inter-Korean agreement, and that inter-Korean trade is "intra-Korean."

It also requires Seoul's efforts to resolve the separated family issue, improve human rights and provide humanitarian aid to the North and build inter-Korean economic cooperation.

The president can also name the head of the Seoul delegation to inter-Korean talks with the unification minister's recommendation.

The bill will also allow the president to conclude and ratify an inter-Korean agreement, but require parliamentary approval if the accord is a financial burden for the nation.