Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung says that the two Koreas have agreed to gradually reopen cross-border railways.

He said that North Korea understood that Thursday’s inter-Korean train test runs should be a preparatory step for the full reconnection of cross-border railways.

The unification minister told a radio program that the two Koreas will discuss the issue during the 21st inter-Korean ministerial talks, which open in Seoul on May 29th.

He went on to say that South Korea cannot shoulder the cost of modernizing North Korea's railroad network by itself, noting the need for foreign investment.

He said also that there is no reason for North Korea's military to oppose the full reconnection of the cross-border railways, as the project will eventually benefit the North. He expected the two Koreas to agree on permanent security assurances for railway service during an inter-Korean general-level meeting slated for July.