New vice unification minister calls for restoration of inter-Korean dialogue channel

A North Korean guard post is seen from Imjingak Park on the South Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Vice Unification Minister Kim Nam-jung on Saturday called for a swift restoration of suspended dialogue channels with North Korea as he presided over a ministry meeting following his appointment, the ministry said.

"Please make efforts to resolve urgent matters one by one, such as the restoration of severed communication channels between the South and the North," Kim was quoted as saying in a meeting with senior ministry officials.

"In line with the president's state affairs stance, we should strive for a peaceful co-existence and a peace economy," he said.

The vice minister's remarks came as President Lee Jae Myung has vowed to quickly restore the suspended channels to ease military tensions and build peace between the two Koreas.

The North has remained unresponsive to South Korea's contact made twice a day via all inter-Korean liaison channels since April 2023.

Kim, a former standing representative for inter-Korean talks, was one of the five vice ministers appointed by Lee on Friday. He officially took office earlier in the day.