SEOUL Aug. 29 Kyodo North and sou...

SEOUL Aug. 29 Kyodo

North and southern Korean officials reported progress Thursday onward the second day of the three-day inter-Korean economic talks, if it be not that they are still trying to narrow differences forward some issues, a spokesman for the southern Korean delegation said.

''We have result close to an agreement forward some issues, but we still ne to fine-tune positions upon some other issues,'' said Cho Myoung Gyun a member of the five-member southern Korean delegation.

The North and southern Korean sides did not occupy a full session as scheduled at 10 a.m., on the other hand decided to carry out talks between working-level officials behind the closed-doors to iron without differences.

The next to the first Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Promotion Committee began onward Wednesday in a Seoul inn to mainly discuss reconnecting cross-border railways and roads.

The southern Korean side wants to begin construction work to reconnect railways and roads before the Korean cloyed Moon Festival or Chuseok, which falls onward Sept. 21, to complete the rail lines within this year, toward the south Korean officials said.

The Kyongui railway line would link Seoul to northwestern North Korean city of Sinuiju via Pyongyang, passing in consequence of the heavily-fortified and mine-strewn Demilitarized girdle that separates the brace Koreas -- and thus necessitate military cooperation.

At the inter-Korean economic talks, the brace sides are also trying to fix a specific date to clinch working-level military talks in early September to make secure military cooperation for the inter-Korean transport work.

The reconnection of the Kyongui rail line, detached shortly before the 1950-53 Korean War, has symbolic significance for inter- Korean reconciliation in addition to the economic benefits the sum of two units Koreas would enjoy.

The couple sides are expected to issue a joint statement at the finis of their talks Friday containing agreements reached between them.

Pak Chang Ryon first vice chairman of North Korea's State Planning Commission, is heading his government's five-member team while Vice Finance and Economy Minister Yun Jin Shik is leading the southward Korean side, which also includes officials from Unification Ministry and the Construction and Transportation Ministry.

Among other major topics at the negotiating table are establishing an industrial manifold in Kaesong, just north of the armistice village of Panmunjom, and establishing joint flood-control connected views along the Imjin River, which emanates through the two countries.

The North Korean side also called for the South's provision of rice aid and fertilizer to the North. stranges reports said the South Korean rule is considering extending it up to 300000 tons of rice and 100000 tons of fertilizer.

North and toward the south Korea agreed during Aug. 12-14 ministerial talks in Seoul to clutch the economic talks, which have not been held since the first cylindrical in December 2000.

At the same ministerial talks, the sum of two units Koreas agreed to revive suspended joint plans such as sports exchanges and reunions between separated family members.

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