Restoration of Inter-Korean Communication Line... Will It Lead to Military Talks?

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] With the restoration of the inter-Korean communication line, evaluations suggest that not only the resumption of dialogue between South and North Korea but also the possibility of military talks have increased. The two Koreas have not held follow-up military talks since the 10th General-level Meeting on October 26, 2018, one month after signing the military agreement.

On the 27th, Park Soo-hyun, Senior Secretary for Public Communication at the Blue House, announced, "South and North Korea agreed to restore the previously severed inter-Korean communication line as of 10 a.m. on the 27th and conducted an initial call."

The Ministry of National Defense has stated its intention to regularize inter-Korean military talks. After the 8th inter-Korean general-level military talks, former Defense Minister Song Young-moo agreed to conduct ad hoc communications daily at 4 p.m. However, by June 2019, the communication rate between the two Koreas was less than 14%. Our government’s position is to discuss military trust-building measures such as the schedule of the ROK-US joint military exercises through military talks, but since North Korea has refused to connect the military communication line since June 2020, discussions have been impossible.

North Korea completely cut off the inter-Korean communication line, the East-West Sea communication line, the inter-Korean test communication line, and the direct hotline between the two leaders, criticizing the distribution of leaflets to the North. At that time, five days before the communication line was cut, Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, issued a statement expressing anger over defectors distributing leaflets to the North, saying, "Trash not even worth the price of a person has recklessly touched our highest dignity."

Inside and outside the military, it is expected that with the possibility of regular communication, in case of military confrontation, even unjust and response communications will be possible. Unjust communication refers to warnings sent by our side on VHF channel 16 if North Korea takes military actions near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea or violates the armistice agreement. Our side communicates from the Navy’s 2nd Fleet Command, while the North communicates through the Changam, Guwolpo, and Gwankaksan communication networks. If North Korea persists with military actions despite unjust communication, our side will conduct response communication, expressing the intention to take military countermeasures.

A government official said, "With the communication line between South and North Korea now operational, it has become an opportunity to confirm the willingness to restore relations."