Inter-Korean military hotline back into operation

SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Inter-Korean military hotline in a western district resumed after having been suspended for more than a year due to Pyongyang's "technical problems," Seoul's unification ministry said Wednesday.

The direct communication channel, operated by the military authorities of the two sides, "began normal operations today after a test yesterday," Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung said.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea have been communicating through two military channels, one in the west and the other in the east, over issues related to the Kaesong Joint Industrial Complex and tourism in the DPRK's Mount Kumgang.

While the communication channel in the west has been suspended since May last year due to "technical issues," according to Pyongyang's explanation, the eastern line has been continued until December when Pyongyang cut it off to protest Seoul's hardline DPRK policy.

The eastern communication channel was normalized last month as part of the DPRK's conciliatory inter-Korean gestures.