North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) guides the multiple-rocket launching drill of women's sub-units under KPA Unit 851, in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) April 24, 2014. During that time, South Korean officials would sometimes use a bull horn to shout messages across the border.For the first time in nearly two years, the hotline was used on Wednesday. On the orders of leader Kim Jong Un, a North Korean official called the South in a preliminary step to a formal dialogue.Officials have released few details of that conversation and several others that have since occurred, although some were decidedly anticlimactic.After several calls on Wednesday, a North Korean official called to check the line. “We have installed two phones just in case one breaks or something.”The Unification Ministry employees who man the phones on the South side are experts in diplomatic protocol and have in the past played roles in face-to-face talks as well.RELATED COVERAGEChina says will limit oil, refined product exports to North KoreaChina says will limit oil, refined product exports to North Korea“At first sight it may seem a very simple job,” the senior ministry official said. A South Korean liaison officer who engaged in some of the recent conversations said he has never seen his counterparts’ office on the other side, and referred further questions to the Unification Ministry.

Source: Egypt Today January 05, 2018 12:22 UTC