(ANSA) - BEIJING, JULY 27 - The two Koreas reopened direct cross-border communications this morning, 13 months after Pyongyang's unilateral decision to close them to protect against anti-North Korean propaganda activities in the South.
This was announced by the two countries in two separate press releases.
The thaw at the 38th parallel has also matured thanks to the exchange of personal letters begun in April between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Supreme Commander Kim Jong-un, aimed at "improving the relationship". The two leaders, the Seoul Presidential Office reported, agreed as a first step to restore the lines of communication. Pyongyang, according to the state agency KCNA, defines the agreement "a great step forward in recovering mutual trust and promoting reconciliation, restoring the lines of inter-Korean communication interrupted thanks to the recent numerous exchanges of personal letters".
The agency, confirming the improvement between the two countries, has assured that the restoration of communications "will have positive effects on the improvement and development of bilateral relations". "Now, the entire Korean nation wishes to see the North-South bonds recover from setback and stagnation as soon as possible." (HANDLE).
