North Korea is conducting checks on inter-Korean railways ahead of next week's test runs.

South Koreans traveling to and from the Gaesong Industrial Complex said Saturday that they saw North Korean technicians checking the Gyeongui Railway Friday at the western border, something which Seoul has confirmed.

In working-level talks last week, the two Koreas agreed to conduct technical inspections on the newly constructed sections of the Gyeongui and Donghae lines in preparation for test runs beginning Thursday.

South Korean rail authorities have conducted safety checks on the southern sections of the two railways since Wednesday.

Reconnection of the two railways is part of the agreements reached at the 2000 inter-Korean summit.

The railroads were cut shortly before the Korean War broke out in 1950.