Korean Peninsula: Direct hotline set up between North and South April 20

Event

For the first time in a decade, a direct hotline between North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been set up. The line is reportedly already functioning as of Friday, April 20. This move is a bid to ease tensions between the two states and to allow the two leaders to directly resolve any potential conflicts.

Context

Relations between the two Koreas seem to be entering a period of detente. An inter-Korean summit will take place on April 27 in the "truce" village of Panmunjom, located on the shared border. Both Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in will attend.

It will be only the third such meeting between the two countries since the end of the Korean War in 1953. If successful, the talks could provide the groundwork for the anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in May.

Advice

Individuals on the Korean Peninsula are advised to keep abreast of the situation.