The move reflects an easing of tensions following a deal between the six negotiators - North and South Korea, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia - in Beijing February 8-13 to end the North's nuclear weapons programs in exchange for aid and security guarantees.
The two countries agreed at a Cabinet-level meeting in Pyongyang Friday to resume the reunions of families separated by the civil Korean War in 1950-1953. The North halted the program in response to Seoul's suspension of aid over the missile tests in July 2006.
Family reunions began following the historic summit between the Korean leaders in 2000, although the two countries are still technically at war, as no formal peace treaty has been signed.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Friday the South and North had also decided to conduct a train test on a railroad already built across the Korean continent in the first half of this year, a symbolic move designed to advance trust-building efforts. South Korea also suggested launching the railroad service in full by the end of 2007.
But Seoul has so far refused to restore humanitarian aid to the impoverished Communist state pending progress in its nuclear disarmament commitments. The South said it would return to discussions on resuming aid in mid-April, when the 60-day deadline for Pyongyang expired.
Before North Korea conducted its missile tests and later nuclear bomb tests, Seoul had supplied its neighbor with 500,000 metric tons of rice and 450,000 metric tons of fertilizer annually.
The countries agreed to hold another round of bilateral ministerial talks in Seoul May 29-June 1 and talks on economic cooperation in Pyongyang April 18-21, Yonhap reported.
Under the Beijing plan of initial steps toward North Korea's denuclearization, Pyongyang is expected to shut down its sole nuclear reactor, compile a list of other nuclear sites and allow UN inspectors into the country within 60 days in exchange for a million metric tons of fuel oil.
The South pledged to supply the first batch, 50,000 metric tons of fuel oil, within the 60 days.
The United States is considering encouraging North Korea economically at the initial stage of pact implementation, the agency said referring to a South Korean government source.
"So far no decision has been adopted as to whether the U.S. will contribute to supplies of the first batch of 50,000 metric tons of fuel oil or provide some other aid," the agency said with reference to its source.
The issue will be discussed at a meeting of the working group on economic and energy aid to North Korea due to take place after March 12.
The negotiators are to set up five working groups to help the parties along the way toward implementing the denuclearization deal. The next round of the six-nation talks has been scheduled for March 19.
