The two Koreas will conduct test runs of cross-border railways from May 17th.

The two sides wrapped up economic cooperation talks, and also agreed on military steps to guarantee safety during the test runs.

They will hold working-level talks Friday and Saturday in the North's border city of Gaesong on details.

The two delegations issued a joint statement Sunday morning after wrapping up the 13th meeting of the South-North Economic Cooperation Promotion Committee in Pyongyang.

Seoul also agreed to provide 400-thousand tons of rice to Pyongyang starting late next month. A South Korean delegate also said rice aid will prove difficult if the North does not take initial steps toward nuclear dismantlement as promised in a February 13th six-nation agreement.

But the South failed to specify the condition in the statement due to the North's strong opposition.

Under the agreement, the South will provide the North in June with 80 million dollars worth of raw materials for manufacturing clothing, footwear and soap. In return, the North will allow South Korean investment in mineral resource development in the North.

The economic talks were scheduled to end Saturday but ran into early Sunday morning amid differences over the implementation of the February agreement and rice aid.

The next round of inter-Korean economic talks will open in Seoul in July.