A North Korea-registered cargo ship arrived in South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan on Sunday for the first time in more than half a century, the latest symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation efforts.

The 1,853-ton freighter Kangsong, carrying a 27-member crew, docked at the port around 12:30 a.m. after departing from the North's western port of Nampho Friday, according to local maritime police.

The cargo ship is to make three round trips between Busan and the North Korean northeastern port city of Rajin every month beginning Monday.

It was first time a North Korean cargo ship made a call at Busan since the 1950-53 Korean War.

Kukbo Express Co., a South Korean company that runs the ship, said it launched the regular service on expectations of steady growth in trade volume between the two Koreas.

South and North Korea are still technically at war since the conflict did not end with a peace treaty, but inter-Korean contact has increased unprecedentedly since the two countries' historic summit in 2000.

The cargo ship's visit to Busan is the latest in a series of inter-Korean reconciliation moves.

On May 17, the two Koreas carried out the first-ever test run of their reconnected railways, marking the first time that trains crossed the inter-Korean border since the war. The one-time test came after repeated delays since the rail lines were re-linked in 2003 and despite unresolved tensions over the North's nuclear programs.

SEOUL, May 20 (Yonhap News)