SEOUL, Aug 30: Rivals South and North Korea on Friday put rapprochement firmly back on track by agreeing to resume work next month to relink cross-border railways and roads cut for half a century.

The accord, announced in a joint statement, promised the reconnection of one railway across the heavily-fortified border this year.

Both sides would start construction work on Sept 18, said the statement released after three days of economic talks held in Seoul.

It said the South should provide the North with construction materials and equipment necessary for the project.

Seoul also agreed to offer 400,000 tons of rice and 100,000 tons of fertilizer to the famine-hit North.

Both sides agreed to gradually reconnect railways and roads across the border from “late November this year”, when a South Korean expressway on the eastern coast will link up to North Korea’s scenic Mount Kumgang.—AFP