SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- A modernized military communications channel across the border between South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will be open next week, local media here reported Tuesday, quoting its government source.

"We are working on linking optical fiber cable lines across the border," a defense ministry official was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.

The revamped line will be officially put to use next week after a two-day trial period later this week, he added.

South Korea in October provided the DPRK with facilities to modernize the communications line, and the two sides began the construction in December, according to reports.

The two sides agreed to modernize the line in late 2007, but the construction has been put off since the relations got sour after South Korean President Lee Myung-bak took office in February2008 with what is often called a hard-line policy toward the DPRK.

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