The two Koreas opened general-level military talks Tuesday over preparations to conduct tests for two recently reconnected inter-Korean railways.

The three-day discussions at the Tongilgak Pavilion on the northern side of the Panmunjeom truce village will focus on the military safety guarantees required to proceed with the rail tests, which are set to take place next week.

Earlier this month, Pyongyang proposed general-level military talks instead of working-level talks to discuss the safe passage of trains on the Gyeongui and Donghae lines crossing through the heavily-fortified demilitarized zone.

South and North Korea agreed to conduct test runs of the two lines during inter-Korean economic cooperation talks last month.

Reconnection of the cross-border railways is part of agreements signed at the June 2000 inter-Korean summit between former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.