The Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed on Wednesday to exchange information on infectious diseases on a trial basis by the end of this year to jointly prevent the spread and entry of contagious diseases. 

The agreement was reached after the inter-Korean working-level talks on health and medical cooperation were held at the joint liaison office of the two Koreas in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong. 

Under the joint statement, the two sides agreed to conduct a pilot exchange of information on infectious diseases within this year, while continuing to discuss ways to exchange information and take necessary measures to prevent the entry and spread of contagious diseases into the Korean Peninsula. 

The ROK and the DPRK will cooperate in diagnosing and conducting preventive treatment of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis and malaria, through the exchange of letters. 

The two Koreas agreed to actively push forward projects on health and medical cooperation and the prevention of epidemics in various ways.

(Cover: Delegates from DPRK and ROK meet at a liaison office in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong, November 7, 2018. /VCG Photo)