The year's first inter-Korean military talks will open Friday in the truce village of Panmunjeom.

The Defense Ministry says the working-level talks will cover cross-border freight transport and implementation of other agreements reached in the last South-North defense chiefs' talks.

A ministry spokesman said the Friday meeting was agreed on last month during talks on the Gaesong Industrial Complex. He said officials will discuss military guarantees for inter-Korean cargo service that launched over a month ago.

The two Koreas will also discuss the timetable for general-level talks on a proposed joint West Sea fishing zone as well as the launching of an inter-Korean military committee.

The ministry's North Korea policy coordinator Lee Sang-cheol will head a three-member delegation. North Korean Colonel Pak Rim-su will head a delegation of the same size.