Park Suhyun: "It is undesirable to evaluate the restoration of communication lines as due to North Korea's domestic situation"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Park Su-hyun, the Blue House Chief of Communication, stated that the view that North Korea restored the communication hotline to address food shortages and quarantine issues is "not desirable," adding that "it was started by the decision of the two leaders to 'try again.'"

On the evening of the 28th, in an interview with TBS's 'Cheerful Current Affairs with Lee Seung-won,' Park said, "I do not think it is desirable to evaluate that North Korea, due to domestic circumstances, reluctantly started restoring the communication line with us and began improving relations," he said.

Park added, "Rather than that meaning, weren't there very meaningful processes that the two leaders had worked on for peace on the Korean Peninsula?" and "It was started by the decision of the two leaders to once again begin for the future of the nation."

Regarding the demolition of the inter-Korean joint liaison office, he said, "Now, they have started with the restoration of the communication line, which is considered a low-level starting point," and "Since the channel for dialogue has been opened, even if only slightly, we can now discuss and negotiate many of the current issues that are causing concern through this dialogue channel."

Regarding foreign media reports that a North-South summit is being pursued, he said, "We were surprised to see the reports," and "It is not true."

When asked about the possibility of a virtual summit, Park responded, "First of all, since it is the COVID-19 non-face-to-face era, we are considering establishing a system where practical contacts can continue virtually," and "We could also discuss restoring the hotline that was operated between the two leaders."

He continued, "If we lay these stepping stones one by one, ultimately, it could lead to a virtual summit, and through that, we could reach the other side of the river called peace on the Korean Peninsula," and "We are sincerely viewing this issue as a final opportunity," he added.