The government will soon propose working-level military talks with North Korea to prepare for test runs of inter-Korean railways slated for May 17th.

Vice Unification Minister Shin Eonsang told a briefing Thursday that the talks will focus on military safety guarantees, a prerequisite to holding the test runs.

Shin also said that after the tests, the two Koreas will meet to discuss issues related to the Gaesong Industrial Complex including logistics, working hours of North Korean employees at the complex and the cross-border flow of goods and people.

As to the agreed joint development of mineral resources, the vice minister said that North Korea's proposed site at Geomdeok in Hamgyeong Province is being considered for the project. He added that an agency to oversee provision of raw materials to the North will also launch after the railway tests.