US "Welcomes Restoration of Inter-Korean Communication Line"... Hopes for Resumption of North Korea-US Dialogue

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The U.S. Department of State welcomed the restoration of the inter-Korean communication hotline and reiterated its call for the resumption of dialogue between North Korea and the United States.

A State Department spokesperson said on the 27th (local time), in response to Asia Economy's inquiry about the restoration of the inter-Korean communication hotline, "The United States supports dialogue and engagement between the two Koreas and welcomes the announcement of the restoration of the inter-Korean communication line."

The spokesperson added, "We believe this is a positive development. Diplomacy and dialogue are essential for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of lasting peace."

Kurt Campbell, the White House National Security Council (NSC) Indo-Pacific Coordinator, known as the 'Asia Tsar,' also stated on the same day, "We support dialogue and communication with North Korea."

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also said twice in a speech at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Singapore, "We are open to dialogue."

On the afternoon of the 27th, when the inter-Korean communication line was restored, a military official conducted a test call using the military communication line in the West Sea area.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The U.S. authorities' response is interpreted as indirectly expressing hope that, following the restoration of the communication line that had been cut for over 430 days between the two Koreas, dialogue between North Korea and the United States could also take place.

The Blue House's mention that the leaders of the two Koreas exchanged several letters also contributes to raising such expectations.

The Biden administration completed a new North Korea policy review at the end of April and attempted to contact North Korea, but it is reported that the North did not respond.

The New York Times, citing Lee Byung-chul, a researcher at the Kyungnam University Institute of Far Eastern Studies, introduced that "North Korea may have resumed communication with the South due to economic problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic."

This is interpreted as a point where the U.S. hopes for progress in dialogue with North Korea if it strengthens humanitarian aid such as food and COVID-19 vaccines and partially eases some sanctions.

The Wall Street Journal also evaluated that Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, may be signaling renewed focus on diplomacy. The Journal noted that although it is unclear what stance North Korea will take toward the U.S., the 2018 and 2019 North Korea-U.S. summits were built on the foundation of inter-Korean summits.

The Journal reported that North Korea may have recognized that it cannot secure U.S. sanctions relief to alleviate economic burdens amid the deepening food crisis after COVID-19 without resuming North Korea-U.S. talks.

There is also analysis that the variable of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises remains for this measure to lead to substantive dialogue.

Rachel Lee, a guest researcher at 38 North, explained, "The terminology North Korea used regarding the restoration of the communication line is very positive, but uncertainties remain, such as the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises scheduled for next month."

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