Ministry of Unification: "North Korea Refuses to Answer Inter-Korean Liaison Office Call at 12 O'clock" (Comprehensive)

North Korea: "All Inter-Korean Communication Channels Cut Off from Noon"

According to the 'Panmunjom Declaration' agreed upon by the South and North Korean leaders in 2018, the inter-Korean liaison office established in Kaesong faced a communication blackout after 1 year and 9 months of operation. The photo shows President Moon Jae-in making a phone call with Bill Gates, Chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, at the Cheong Wa Dae Yeomin Building on the morning of April 10.

North Korea declared the blocking and termination of all communication channels between the South and the North, setting the time for this action at 12:00 noon on the 9th. At that time, the Ministry of Unification attempted to connect by phone to the North through the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, but the North did not respond.

The Ministry of Unification stated that "at 12:00 noon, an attempt was made to connect by phone to the North through the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office communication line, but the North did not answer."

A Ministry of Unification official informed reporters in the morning that another call attempt would be made around noon, the time North Korea set for blocking the channels. The government carried out this plan, but it was confirmed that North Korea did not respond to the call attempt.

Normally, the liaison office conducts opening and closing calls twice on weekdays, at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., even if there are no special issues.

On the morning of the 8th, North Korea did not respond to the opening call for the first time since the liaison office opened, but contact was made again in the afternoon. It is reported that North Korea did not provide any particular explanation for not responding to the call on the morning of the 8th.

Then, on the 9th, North Korea unilaterally declared through state media that all communication channels between the South and the North would be cut off.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported in the morning under the headline "Regarding the complete blocking of all communication lines between the North and the South," stating, "From 12:00 noon 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 North-South communication test line, and the direct communication line between the Workers' Party Central Committee headquarters and the Blue House will be completely blocked and terminated."

The government plans to monitor North Korea's movements closely and prepare countermeasures.

A Ministry of Unification official said, "Inter-Korean communication lines are a basic means for communication and should be maintained according to inter-Korean agreements," adding, "The government will comply with inter-Korean agreements and continue efforts for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula."

Regarding North Korea setting the blocking time at noon on this day, the official said, "We do not know the basis for that decision."

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