남북정상 '핫라인' 개통 완료<br /><br /> Our starting point is once again the preparations leading up to the 2018 inter-Korean summit.<br />With a direct line of communication set up, the two sides talked on the phone for the first time.<br />We now turn to our Cha Sang-mi at the nation's top office for the latest.<br />Sang-mi, tell us about this hotline between the two Koreas.<br /><br /> Yes Daniel, working-level officials from Seoul and Pyongyang have successfully connected the direct hotline, and they conducted a test call at 3:41 PM Seoul time. The historic call lasted for around 4 minutes and 19 seconds.<br /><br /> One end of the hotline is at the South Korean presidential office -- in fact it's right on the desk in President Moon's office on the third floor.<br />On the North Korean side it's at the State Affairs Commission, an executive body headed by Kim Jong-un.<br />The presidential secretary for monitoring state affairs, Youn Kun-young, made the announcement.<br /><br /> "The historic first call on the direct line between South and North Korea ended just a while ago. The test call took place at around 3:41 p.m. The President's personal secretary, Song In-bae, made the call from our side... and it was received by an official from the State Affairs Commission."<br /><br /> Youn said the signal was great, just like calling someone next door.<br /><br /> And according to a Blue House official, when the President's personal secretary Song In-bae made the call, the official from Pyongyang answered, "Yes, this is Pyongyang."<br />The two introduced themselves and Song said "the weather is great here in Seoul," and asked, "how is it there?"<br /> His counterpart answered that it's good in Pyongyang as well,... and the two ended the call after saying they hope for a good result at the upcoming inter-Korean summit... and will work hard to make that happen.<br /><br />Much of the conversation was not revealed since it is classified.<br />The top office also refused to reveal the name or position of the Pyongyang official, as the two sides had agreed not to say any more.<br /><br /> It is still unclear when President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will speak on the phone, but it will be before the summit next Friday.<br />The Blue House official called the phone call "historic," as it was on the first direct line between the two Koreas in their 70 years of separation.<br /><br /> Thank you Sang-mi for the update. <br />
