North Korea "Completely Cuts Off and Discards All Communication Channels with South Korea"

"All Communication Channels Including Cheongwadae Hotline Abolished"
"Inter-Korean Projects Thoroughly Shifted to Anti-North Activities"
Government: "Inter-Korean Communication Lines Are Basic Means for Dialogue"

North Korea cut all communication lines with South Korea on the 9th, citing the issue of leaflet distribution, putting various channels connecting the two Koreas at risk of being completely severed. The photo shows President Moon Jae-in making a phone call with King Felipe VI of Spain at the Yeomin-gwan in the Blue House on the afternoon of the 4th.

North Korea announced on the 9th at noon that it will completely cut off and discard all communication lines between the South and the North, including the Blue House hotline. This clearly indicates its stance to immediately sever all contact methods between authorities such as the National Intelligence Service and the military, including the hotline between the South and North leaders, and to completely sever inter-Korean relations. It also revealed its plan to change its work related to the South into an 'anti-South project' that defines the South as an enemy, signaling a shift from dialogue to confrontation.

The North Korean state media, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported on the same day, "From 12:00 on June 9, the communication lines between the North and South authorities maintained through the inter-Korean joint liaison office, the East-West Sea communication lines between the North and South military, the inter-Korean communication test line, and the direct communication line between the Workers' Party Central Committee headquarters and the Blue House will be completely cut off and discarded."

The communication further stated that at a meeting, First Vice Director Kim and Vice Chairman Kim "emphasized the need to thoroughly convert the work related to the South into an anti-South project and reviewed step-by-step anti-South project plans to accurately calculate the price paid by traitors and trash," adding, "They gave instructions to completely cut off all communication lines between the North and South."

The KCNA report was also published in the Workers' Party's official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, which is read by all residents, suggesting that North Korea's tough measures are likely to be followed by actual actions.

North Korea's declaration to sever inter-Korean relations is also materializing with the dismantling of the inter-Korean joint liaison office, which was the first step it publicly announced.

An official from the Ministry of Unification stated, "This morning, the South's liaison office attempted to connect with the North as scheduled, but the North did not answer."

All military communication lines were also disconnected on the same day. There are three lines connected between the South and North. The West Sea military communication line, established in September 2002, consists of telephone, fax, and three backup lines. The East Sea military communication line, established in December 2003, was once destroyed by a wildfire in the North's Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) but was restored. The communication line established on August 13, 2005, to prevent accidental clashes in the West Sea was unilaterally suspended by North Korea in May 2008. The South and North agreed to restore all these lines at the general-level talks in June 2018.

However, these lines were cut off again as of the morning of the 9th, just two years later. The hotline connecting the Blue House and the North Korean State Affairs Commission is also at risk of being closed two years after its installation. Meanwhile, the channels between the National Intelligence Service and the United Front Department, which have handled behind-the-scenes communication during critical inter-Korean moments, were not specified by North Korea as targets for disconnection, drawing attention.

The Ministry of Unification stated on the same day regarding North Korea's announcement to cut off and discard all communication channels between the South and North authorities, "Inter-Korean communication lines are basic means for communication and should be maintained according to inter-Korean agreements."

A Ministry of Unification official told reporters, "The government will continue to abide by inter-Korean agreements and strive for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula." There was no emergency National Security Council (NSC) meeting held on the day concerning North Korea's position.

However, since the key standing members of the NSC, including National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong, Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul, and Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo, gathered at the State Council meeting presided over by President Moon Jae-in at the Blue House, it is possible that consultations took place.

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