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North Korea reopens hotline to South to discuss Olympics | North Korea reopens hotline to South to discuss Olympics |
(about 2 hours later) | |
North Korea has reopened a hotline to South Korea, almost two years after it was disabled on the orders of leader Kim Jong-un. | |
South Korea confirmed it had received a call from the North at 15:30 local time (06:30 GMT) on Wednesday. | South Korea confirmed it had received a call from the North at 15:30 local time (06:30 GMT) on Wednesday. |
The North Korean leader had earlier said he was open to dialogue with Seoul and to sending a team to the Winter Olympics in the South next month. | The North Korean leader had earlier said he was open to dialogue with Seoul and to sending a team to the Winter Olympics in the South next month. |
The two nations have not held high-level talks since December 2015. | The two nations have not held high-level talks since December 2015. |
North Korea cut off the communications channel shortly afterwards, refusing to answer calls, according to officials in the South. | North Korea cut off the communications channel shortly afterwards, refusing to answer calls, according to officials in the South. |
A North Korean official announced the hotline's reopening in a televised statement. | |
He said the two nations would discuss the practical issues around a proposal to send a North Korean delegation to the Winter Games in Pyeongchang in February. | He said the two nations would discuss the practical issues around a proposal to send a North Korean delegation to the Winter Games in Pyeongchang in February. |
"We will make close contact with South Korea in a sincere and faithful manner," Yonhap news agency quoted the official as saying. | |
How has the South responded? | How has the South responded? |
The press secretary for South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said the restoration of this communications channel was "very significant". | The press secretary for South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said the restoration of this communications channel was "very significant". |
"It creates an environment where communication will be possible at all times," he said. | "It creates an environment where communication will be possible at all times," he said. |
Where is the physical line? | Where is the physical line? |
According to the South Korean Unification Ministry, there are a total of 33 direct lines that North and South Korea once used to communicate with each other. | |
This particular phone line, established in 1971, is based in Panmunjom. | |
The border village, in the heavily guarded demilitarised zone (DMZ), is where the Koreas have historically held talks. | The border village, in the heavily guarded demilitarised zone (DMZ), is where the Koreas have historically held talks. |
Why have the Olympics become so important? | Why have the Olympics become so important? |
In a New Year's Day speech, Mr Kim spoke of lowering tensions and of melting "frozen North-South relations". | |
He said attending the Games would be "a good opportunity to show unity of the people" in North Korea. | He said attending the Games would be "a good opportunity to show unity of the people" in North Korea. |
South Korea had already indicated that the North's participation in the Games would be welcomed. | South Korea had already indicated that the North's participation in the Games would be welcomed. |
Seoul offered high-level talks in response, with President Moon Jae-in calling it a "groundbreaking chance" to improve relations. | Seoul offered high-level talks in response, with President Moon Jae-in calling it a "groundbreaking chance" to improve relations. |
It is not yet clear whether North Korea will accept that offer, but the opening of the hotline will allow for preliminary discussions to be held. | It is not yet clear whether North Korea will accept that offer, but the opening of the hotline will allow for preliminary discussions to be held. |
When did the line stop being used? | When did the line stop being used? |
North Korea cut off communications on the hotline in 2016, following a row over the Kaesong industrial complex. | |
The complex was joint economic venture between the two Koreas, but the South suspended the project it in response to a nuclear weapons test by the North. | |
Will nuclear testing be discussed? | |
North Korea has come under increasing international pressure in the past year over its nuclear weapons programme. | North Korea has come under increasing international pressure in the past year over its nuclear weapons programme. |
President Moon said the North's continuing tests would be the backdrop to any new discussions about the Olympics. | |
The initial call was brief as checks are still being carried out on the line, according to South Korean officials. | |
What role might the US play? | |
At the same time as offering an apparent olive branch to the South, Mr Kim used his speech to repeat threats against the US, saying a nuclear launch button was always on his table. | |
US state department spokesman Heather Nauert said that Mr Kim's latest move "may be trying to drive a wedge of some sort between the two nations - between our nation and the Republic of Korea [South Korea]". | |
Washington has encouraged all countries to isolate North Korea. | |
The South says it has discussed its latest steps with the US. | |
Meanwhile, Mr Trump remains outspoken in his tweets. On Tuesday night, the US president boasted that his nuclear button was "much bigger" and "more powerful" than the North Korean leader's. |