Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung said Friday that the South Korean government will try to open the inter-Korean railways as early as possible.

He made the remark at a local forum, saying that the railways are absolutely necessary to transport goods from the inter-Korean Gaesong Industrial Complex as well as natural resources developed jointly by the two Koreas.

He said the railways will be partially opened at first for logistical purposes before they are fully opened.

Lee predicted that once more than 300 companies at Gaesong begin operation, they will produce goods worth up to 150 million dollars a month, compared with the current monthly output of 13 million dollars.

He added that the railways would then make a great contribution to the industrial complex's growth.