The two Koreas restored a telephone line across the border Friday as part of rapid steps to set up next week’s official talks to normalise relations.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reopened the communication channel in the afternoon which was severed amid military tension in March. It also proposed holding a working-level meeting in Gaeseong on Sunday to prepare for the first formal talks in 28 months.

Later in the day, Seoul sent a telegram through the line and suggested holding the preparatory talks at the South’s side at the border village of Panumjeom at 10am on Sunday.

On Thursday the two sides agreed to resume dialogue to reduce tensions and mend bilateral ties.

The DPRK’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea announced that it would accept Seoul’s call for governmental dialogue and offered to discuss a range of issues including reactivating the suspended Gaeseong industrial complex and resuming a tour programme to Mount Geumgang.

In response South Korean Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae suggested later in the day that ministers meet in Seoul next Wednesday.

As the first step for normalisation, the DPRK on Friday reconnected a Red Cross communication line which was cut off at the height of cross-border tensions in late March along with three other inter-Korean military channels and one with the UN Command.

Running through Panmunjeom, the link had been a vital source of communication between the two Koreas that technically remain at war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.