TWO KOREAS MOVE TOWARD OPEN BORDER

North and South Korea yesterday narrowed the cold-war gap, agreeing on a framework for reestablishing land, sea, and air links in a unified nation.

A spokesman for Seoul's South-North Dialogue Office said 16 points had been agreed on between the communist North and capitalist South. But scores of differences remain before the two Koreas can sign a full economic pact.

The agreements included the relinking of mail services and other communications. The two sides also agreed to forge scientific, technological, and environmental exchanges and cooperation once the border reopens.

Direct links between the two Koreas were cut after the bitter 1950-53 Korean War which ended in an uncertain truce.

A nonaggression pact that launched regular talks was signed last December.

But progress stalled when a row erupted over the South's demand to inspect nuclear facilities in the North. Discussion over humanitarian exchanges including cross-border visits collapsed last Friday.