North, South Korea reestablish hotlines and pledge to improve ties

The resumption of the hotline comes despite stalled negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang on the denuclearization of North Korea.

As per details, North Korea cut the hotline in June 2020 as cross-border ties soured after a failed second summit in February 2019 between Kim and then then-President Trump, which Moon had offered to mediate.

However, the negotiations ended without a deal.

North Korea’s state media outlet, The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), also said all inter-Korean communication channels were reopened at 10am on Tuesday.

Since April, South Korean president Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have exchanged multiple letters and agreed to reconnect the hotline, the Blue House said on Tuesday.

Previous reopening of the hotline have not always gone to plan but raised hopes of improved relations.

South Korean president has publicly called for a recovery of the hotline and talks, pinning high hopes on US president Joe Biden to restart negotiations.