DPRK reopens hotline with ROK in Panmunjom: DPRK media

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced Wednesday that it will re-open the north-south hotline with the Republic of Korea (ROK) in its truce village of Panmunjom, DPRK media reported.

The channel for communications will be reopened from 3pm local time (0630 GMT) to discuss with the ROK the DPRK's participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

The Korean Central Television showed a top official of the DPRK's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland reading an order by the country's top leader Kim Jong Un on re-opening the hotline.

The official said Kim highly appreciated the immediate and positive response from ROK authorities, after Kim expressed his willingness to send DPRK athletes to join in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang on Monday.

Kim has tasked relevant authorities of the DPRK to contact the ROK to take measures for preparing the country's participation in the event, the official said.

The north-south hotline was suspended after Seoul unilaterally announced the closing of an industrial park in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test in January 2016.

In his New Year's speech on Monday, Kim expressed his sincere wishes for the full success of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, saying the DPRK will take necessary measures to prepare to participate in the event.