South and North Korean leaders open direct phone line
(Baonghean.vn) - The two leaders are expected to have a discussion before meeting at the Panmunjeom truce village next week.
 |
| South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Photo: Asianews. |
On April 20, the South Korean Unification Ministry announced that South Korea and North Korea have established a direct telephone line between the two countries' leaders. The ministry stated: "The direct line connects the Blue House - the residence of President Moon Jae-in - and the Central Office of the State Council of North Korea."
In its statement, the agency said the South Korean technical team had successfully conducted a test call and that no technical errors had occurred. The North Korean side then called back.
The Blue House announced that the two leaders will hold a meeting ahead of their meeting at the border truce village of Panmunjeom, scheduled to take place next week.
“The establishment of the historic hotline between the leaders of the two countries will help ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, as many border conflicts have erupted in the past due to misunderstandings between the two sides and a lack of emergency communication channels,” the South Korean presidential office said.
A South Korean delegation visited Pyongyang in early March and met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. During the talks, the two sides reached an agreement on holding an inter-Korean summit. North Korea also expressed its willingness to hold talks with US President Donald Trump.
Representatives of South and North Korea have agreed to hold a summit between the leaders of the two countries, Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un, on April 27. The meeting between the leaders of North Korea and the United States is expected to take place in May or June.
