Trains will run across the inter-Korean border for the first time in nearly 60 years.

In ceremonies marking test runs of two inter-Korean railways, top officials of the two Koreas congratulated the events. The ceremonies were held simultaneously at two locations: Munsan Station on the Gyeongui Line on the western border and Mount Geumgang Station on the Donghae Line on the east coast.

Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung and North Korea's Chief Cabinet Councilor Kwon Ho-ung were among officials and citizens from the two Koreas on hand at the ceremony held at Munsan Station. Construction Minister Lee Yong-sup and his North Korean counterpart attended a similar ceremony at Mount Geumgang Station.

After the ceremonies, two trains will cross the border from opposite directions. On the western Gyeongui Line, a train carrying 150 passengers - 100 South Koreans and 50 North Korans - will leave Munsan Station in the South and cross the military demarcation line at the Demilitarized Zone at around 11:30 to arrive at the North's border city of Gaesong.

On the Donghae Line, another train carrying an equal number of passengers will travel from the North's Mount Geumgang Station to the South's Jejin Station on a 25-point-five kilometer section along the east coast.

The Gyeongui train will be driven by a South Korean-made diesel locomotive pulling four passenger cars and a generator. The Donghae Line train will have the same car composition, but will be driven by a North Korean-made engine.

For the return ride, the trains are scheduled to cross the military demarcation line again around 3:30 p.m.

Train service across the military demarcation line is the first for the Gyeongui Line since June 1951 and the first for the Donghae since the Korean War broke out in June 1950.

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