North Korea Rejects First Call from Inter-Korean Liaison Office... Is Closure Procedure Underway?

Communication Office Closure After 1 Year 9 Months
Ministry of Unification: "North Korea Did Not Answer Work Start Call on the 8th"

The Kaesong Inter-Korean Liaison Office was established as a result of an agreement between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un to set it up through the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration. President Moon and Leader Kim shaking hands across the Military Demarcation Line at Panmunjom on April 27.

North Korea has refused to answer the first call to commence operations at the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office (Liaison Office), resulting in a communication breakdown for the first time in 1 year and 9 months. Since the establishment of the Liaison Office under the 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, the two Koreas have conducted two daily calls.

On the 8th, Yeosang-gi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, stated at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office, "This morning, the Liaison Office attempted to connect a call with North Korea as scheduled, but the North side is currently not answering."

Typically, the Liaison Office has conducted opening and closing calls twice on weekdays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., even when there were no special issues.

Since the opening of the Inter-Korean Liaison Office in September 2018, this is the first time the North has not answered a call attempt.

Concerns are emerging that, as North Korea recently declared, it may have begun the process of closing the Liaison Office.

Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, mentioned in a statement released on the 4th that South Korea should take measures against the distribution of leaflets to the North, and along with the suspension of tours to Mount Kumgang, the complete dismantling of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, and the annulment of the September 19 Inter-Korean Military Agreement, she referred to the closure of the Liaison Office.

Subsequently, on the 5th, the North's United Front Department announced through a spokesperson's statement that Kim Yo-jong had instructed to consider the 'complete closure' of the Liaison Office as the first measure related to this matter.

When asked whether the failure of the morning opening call should be seen as a suspension of the Liaison Office's operations, spokesperson Ye said, "We plan to attempt the call again this afternoon as scheduled and will monitor the situation closely."

Spokesperson Ye added, "The government’s position is to strictly adhere to all inter-Korean agreements and continue cooperation with the North for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula."

On the 5th, the day after Kim Yo-jong’s statement, calls between the two Koreas at the Liaison Office were conducted normally both in the morning and afternoon.

Opening ceremony of the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office held at the Kaesong Industrial Complex in September 2018

Meanwhile, the military communication lines between the two Koreas were reported to be operating normally, with the routine opening call for inspection conducted at 9 a.m. on the same day.

The East and West Sea inter-Korean military communication lines and the international common maritime network (hotline) between the two sides' vessels were reported to be functioning normally as of the morning of the 8th.

The military authorities of both Koreas conduct regular calls twice daily at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. using the East and West Sea military communication lines.

In particular, the West Sea military communication line is used as a channel to send North Korea-bound telephone notifications from the South.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.