SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that all communication channels with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were completely severed.
Lee said in a press conference with foreign media to mark the first anniversary of the botched martial law bid that relations between the two Koreas came to a complete standstill, given that not only was dialogue completely severed, but all communication channels, including emergency hotlines, were cut off.
The president, who took office on June 4 through a snap presidential election, vowed to constantly send conciliatory gestures to the DPRK through actions that include stopping anti-DPRK propaganda broadcasts in border areas and minimizing military actions open to misunderstanding.
Lee stressed that communications, cooperation and negotiations between the DPRK and the United States should not be restricted by South Korea's position, vowing to do his best for the creation of dialogue conditions between Pyongyang and Washington.
He noted that improved relations between the DPRK and the United States will help resolve or alleviate the Korean Peninsula issues, adding that the issue of the South Korea-U.S. joint military drills can be sufficiently discussed and considered if necessary for the creation of dialogue conditions. ■
