North and South Korea have restored a communication hotline that was cut off by Pyongyang last year.
According to the South’s presidential office, the leaders of both countries have agreed to rebuild trust and improve ties.
They have exchanged several personal letters since April, added the statement.
North Korea cut the hotline in June 2020 as relations soured after a failed summit between the two countries.
Shortly afterwards, North Korea blew up an inter-Korean border office that had been built to improve communications.
“According to the agreement made between the top leaders, the north and the south took a measure to re-operate all inter-Korean communication liaison lines from 10:00 on July 27,” North Korea’s official KCNA news agency said.” The top leaders agreed to make a big stride in recovering mutual trust and promoting reconciliation,” said the statement.
The ministry has added that another phone call would be conducted on Tuesday afternoon, and henceforth everyday.
“We’re glad to talk again after over a year. We hope this… [brings] good news to all Korean people,” said the South’s representative.
Ties between both countries improved in 2018, when South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met three times.
