Koreas normalize military hotline

SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- South and North Korea reopened their military hotline
in a western district more than a year after Pyongyang suspended it due to
"technical problems," a Seoul official said.

The direct communication channel, operated by the military authorities of the two
sides, "began normal operations today after a test yesterday," Unification
Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung said.
The Koreas have operated two major military hotlines -- one in the west and the
other in the east -- to communicate on matters related to South Koreans commuting
to a joint industrial park in the North's western border town of Kaesong and
tourists visiting the North's Mount Kumgang resort on the east coast.
North Korea suspended the western-side channel in May last year, citing technical
glitches. Inter-Korean communication continued through the eastern line until
Pyongyang severed it as well in December to protest Seoul's hardline North Korea
policy.
The east-side line was restored last month as part of a series of conciliatory
moves by North Korea toward the South.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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