DPRK reopens hotline with S. Korea in Panmunjom -- DPRK media

Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-03 19:28:08|Editor: Lu Hui
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PYONGYANG, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced Wednesday that it will re-open the north-south hotline with South Korea in its truce village of Panmunjom, DPRK media reported.

The channel for communications will be reopened from 3:00 p.m. local time (0630 GMT) to discuss with South Korea the DPRK's participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

The Korean Central Television showed a top official of the DPRK's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland reading an order by the country's top leader Kim Jong Un on re-opening the hotline.

The official said Kim highly appreciated the immediate and positive response from the South Korean authorities, after Kim expressed his willingness to send DPRK athletes to join in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang on Monday.

Kim has tasked relevant authorities of the DPRK to contact the South Korean side to take measures for preparing the country's participation in the event, the official said.

The north-south hotline was suspended after Seoul unilaterally announced the closing of an industrial park in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test in January 2016.

In his New Year's speech on Monday, Kim expressed his sincere wishes for the full success of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, saying the DPRK will take necessary measures to prepare to participate in the event.

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S. Korea reopens communication channel with DPRK in Panmunjom

SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said Wednesday that it reopened a communication channel with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the truce village of Panmunjom amid rising expectations for the DPRK's participation in South Korea-hosted winter sports event.  Full story

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