Working-level talks between the two Koreas over cooperation on light industry and underground resources have hit a rough patch.

Officials from South and North held all-night negotiations at an inter-Korean economic cooperation office in the border city of Gaesong, only to fail to reach agreement on both the price and quantity of light-industry raw materials to be exchanged.

A South Korean Unification Ministry official said that despite progress on some agenda items, the two sides failed to reach a final agreement, adding that they are expected to have an agreement Saturday.

In July 2005, South Korea agreed to provide North Korea with light-industry raw materials in exchange for permission to pursue a joint underground resource development project in the communist state.