Politics
17:23, 09-Jan-2018
DPRK reopens military hotline with Seoul
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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reopened a military hotline with Republic of Korea (ROK) across the western border Tuesday during the inter-Korean high-level talks in the truce village of Panmunjom.
An ROK government official who declined to be identified told reporters that the DPRK informed the ROK side during the morning session of the restoration of the hotline which allowing for direct dialogue between the two sides.
An ROK officer contacting the DPRK through a military hotline in this undated file photo. /VCG Photo
An ROK officer contacting the DPRK through a military hotline in this undated file photo. /VCG Photo
The ROK's military checked the communications channel in the western region, confirming it was restored at about 2 p.m. (0500 GMT).
The hotline was shut down in February 2016 after Seoul said it would close the Joint Kaesong industrial zone, just north of the western border.
The military hotline was used to notify the DPRK of ROK's moving in an out of the industrial complex.
Yonhap news agency pointed out the DPRK's decision indicates that the DPRK may seek to send its delegation to the Winter Olympic Games to be held in ROK next month by land.
If the DPRK chooses the land route to go across the heavily guarded border, the two countries will need to have a military consultation.
(With inputs from Xinhua)