A
hotline enabling direct communication between South Korea’s presidential office
of Cheong Wa Dae and North Korea’s State Affairs Commission was connected April
20, a week ahead of the inter-Korean summit.
“The
historic direct line has been successfully connected, and a test call was
conducted at 3:41 p.m. that lasted four minutes 19 seconds,” said Yun
Geun-young, director of the situation rooms for the summit and Cheong Wa Dae,
in a media briefing the same day.
The
call was made by senior presidential secretary for personnel affairs Song
In-bae in Seoul and received by an official of the commission in Pyongyang.
“The
call went through without any problems. The quality of the call was also quite
good, as if it was made to a neighbor living next door,” Director Yun
said.
With
a week to go before the summit, he said all necessary preparations will be made
to ensure that the site is ready. A meeting is slated for April 21 at Panmunjom
among agencies in charge of security.
“Next
week, we’ll have onsite meetings at Panmunjom, including the final meeting of
the preparatory committee and a meeting of team heads,” Director Yun said.
“Once the situation room opens at Panmunjom April 24, our operations will be
based there, and we will conduct a thorough review of all preparations.”