Kim Jong-un Announces 'Restoration of Communication Hotline,' Government Reacts Positively: "Expect Stable Operation"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of North Korea, announced that the inter-Korean communication lines will be restored starting next month. This response came in reply to South Korea's demand to "restore the communication lines first for inter-Korean dialogue," and the government immediately issued a statement saying, "The restoration and stable operation of the inter-Korean communication lines are anticipated."

On the 30th, the Korean Central News Agency reported, "On the 29th, Marshal Kim Jong-un delivered a historic policy speech titled ‘On the Immediate Direction of Struggle for New Development of Socialist Construction’ at the 2nd day of the 5th session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."

In his policy speech, General Secretary Kim expressed his intention to restore the inter-Korean communication lines from early next month, stating, "As part of efforts to realize the expectations and wishes of the entire nation for the prompt recovery of the currently frozen inter-Korean relations and the establishment of lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula."

He also emphasized, "We have neither the purpose nor reason to provoke South Korea, nor do we intend to cause harm," and added, "South Korea must quickly rid itself of the delusion that it must suppress North Korea's provocations, as well as the severe sense of crisis and victim mentality."

The government welcomed General Secretary Kim's policy speech. An official from the Ministry of Unification stated, "The Ministry of Unification has consistently maintained the position that the inter-Korean communication lines must be restored promptly for official-level dialogue to resume quickly and for various issues to be discussed and resolved amid a stabilized situation on the Korean Peninsula," and added, "Since the mention of the communication lines is a public statement by General Secretary Kim, the restoration and stable operation of the inter-Korean communication lines are expected."

He further added, "We will prepare in response to General Secretary Kim's expression of intention to restore the inter-Korean communication lines from early next month in his policy speech at the Supreme People's Assembly."

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