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Seoul expressed the hope that this move will become the “foundation” for rebuilding the relationship between the recent series of missile launch tests.
The Seoul government said on Monday that North Korea and South Korea have resumed cross-border hotlines, and officials have talked on the phone for the first time since August.
A few days ago, Pyongyang conducted a series of missile tests in a few weeks, which aroused international attention and prompted an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
The Ministry of Unification in Seoul confirmed that officials from the two countries exchanged their first phone calls since August on Monday morning.
The ministry said in a statement: “With the restoration of north-south communication lines, the government’s assessment has laid a foundation for the restoration of inter-Korean relations.”
“The government hopes… to resume dialogue quickly and start actual discussions to restore inter-Korean relations,” it added.
Earlier Monday, North Korean state media reported that the line was cut off after a brief reconnection in late July and will be restored at 9 am (00:00 GMT).
The KCNA stated that leader Kim Jong Un “expressed his intention to restore the severed north-south communication line” with a view to establishing “lasting peace” on the Korean peninsula.
Since Pyongyang stopped answering the hotline in August, tensions between the two countries have increased.
Last month, Pyongyang conducted a series of missile tests, including hypersonic weapons and cruise missiles with nuclear capabilities.
South Korea has also tested submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM).
Negotiations aimed at dismantling Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs broke down in 2019 due to the lifting of sanctions and have not yet resumed.
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