N.Korea to reopen communication channel with S.Korea

North Korea on Wednesday said that it will reopen a suspended inter-Korean communication line after leader Kim Jong-un extended an overture to Seoul in his New Year's Day message.

The North will open the dialogue channel at the shared border village of Panmunjom at 3 p.m., Yonhap News Agency quoted Pyongyang state-media as saying.

"By upholding a decision by the leadership, we will make close contact with South Korea in a sincere and faithful manner," said Ri Son-gwon, the head of North Korea's agency handling inter-Korean affairs.

"We will discuss working-level issues over our potential dispatch of the delegation."

But he did not specify whether the country would accept Seoul's offer for high-level talks slated for January 9.

The announcement comes a day after Seoul proposed high-level inter-Korean talks to discuss North Korea's possible participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and ways to improve ties.

On New Year's Day, Kim said North Korea was willing to send a delegation to the Olympics in South Korea and is open to inter-Korean talks over the matter.

Pyongyang cut off two inter-Korean communication channels -- a hotline installed at the liaison office at the truce village and a military channel -- in February 2016 in protest of Seoul's shutdown of a joint industrial complex.

Kim "highly appreciated and welcomed" South Korean President Moon Jae-in's support of his peace offer, Ri said.

"The leader stressed that whether inter-Korean ties can be improved totally depends on North and South Korea," he said.

South Korea's Unification Ministry welcomed the North's restoration of the cross-border channel.

"We will consult with North Korea over working-level issues in connection to our dialogue offer through the hotline," the ministry said.

--IANS

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