Kim expressed his willingness to reconnect inter-Korean hotlines starting from October, but criticised the South's "delusion" over what it calls military provocations from the North. North Korea severed the hotlines in early August in protest against joint South Korea-US military drills, just days after reopening them for the first time in a year. "We have neither aim nor reason to provoke South Korea and no idea to harm it," he said, according to the official KCNA news agency. South Korea's Unification Ministry responsible for inter-Korean affairs welcomed Kim's offer on the hotlines, but did not comment on his other remarks. Pyongyang was attempting to foster a more positive mood towards North Korea in Seoul ahead of the upcoming presidential election and press Moon to help shift US attitudes, he said.

Source: bd News24 September 30, 2021 03:45 UTC