The hotlines between North and South Korea
(Updated: April 22, 2018) The current 2018 Winter Olympics , held in PyeongChang, South Korea, led to a charm offensive by neighbouring North Korea, which included the reopening of a border hotline with the South, that had been closed for almost two years. The reopening came with new photos of the fancy-looking communications equipment, which will be described here, as well as the fact that there's not just one phone line, but over 40. Unlike other hotlines, the ones between North and South Korea are mostly used for low-level practical issues. > See also: Bilateral hotlines worldwide A South Korean liaison officer speaks with his North Korean counterpart over the inter-Korean communications channel at Panmunjom, January 3, 2018 (photo: Unification Ministry - click to enlarge) The Red Cross hotline The first hotline between North and South Korea became operational on September 22, 1971. The link was the result of the first inter-Korean Red Cross meeting held on September 20, whi