문 대통령 책상 위 남북정상 '핫라인' 2년만에 단절<br /><br />The communication lines severed by North Korea includes the hotline between the leaders of the two Koreas established in 2018.<br />Although this will be a disappointment for the Moon administration, this is hardly the first time the North has cut off contact with the South since communication was first established in 1971.<br />Kim Min-ji reports.<br />The hotline between the leaders of South and North Korea is out of service for the first time since it was set up two years ago.<br />Although it was never officially used,... it's had a symbolic meaning.<br />The line was established in 2018, just before the first summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.<br />North Korea has severed three other communication lines as well the one between the liaision offices, the military hotline... and the one used to test those lines.<br />But... possibly leaving room for communication the North made no mention of whether it would also be cutting a line that connects the South's intel agency and the North's United Front Department in charge of inter-Korean affairs.<br />There's also a working line between North Korea and UN Command.<br />Communications between the two Koreas have been cut off and restored several times since they were first established in 1971.<br />Each time it was the North that cut them.<br />In 2008 it was in retaliation for South Korea's co-sponsoring of a UN resolution on the regime's human rights abuses.<br />In 2010... after Seoul imposed sanctions in response to the North's sinking of the warship Cheonan.<br />Again in 2013 in response to sanctions by the UN... and joint military drills by South Korea and the U.S.<br />And once more in 2016... after South Korea's exit from the Gaesong Industrial Complex, which it did in response to the regime's long-range missile test.<br />The latest development is without a doubt a disappointment for the Moon administration, which has been seeking rapprochement with North Korea.<br />President Moon has reached out to the North several times to get inter-Korean relations back on track,... and he extended an offer of cooperation on COVID-19 but has yet to get a response.<br />Seoul's top office isn't expected to take any immediate action, but rather, monitor the situation and analyze the North's intentions. Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.<br />
