남북정상 '핫라인' 개통 완료
Our starting point is once again the preparations leading up to the 2018 inter-Korean summit.
With a direct line of communication set up, the two sides talked on the phone for the first time.
We now turn to our Cha Sang-mi at the nation's top office for the latest.
Sang-mi, tell us about this hotline between the two Koreas.
Yes Daniel, working-level officials from Seoul and Pyongyang have successfully connected the direct hotline, and they conducted a test call at 3:41 PM Seoul time. The historic call lasted for around 4 minutes and 19 seconds.
One end of the hotline is at the South Korean presidential office -- in fact it's right on the desk in President Moon's office on the third floor.
On the North Korean side it's at the State Affairs Commission, an executive body headed by Kim Jong-un.
The presidential secretary for monitoring state affairs, Youn Kun-young, made the announcement.
"The historic first call on the direct line between South and North Korea ended just a while ago. The test call took place at around 3:41 p.m. The President's personal secretary, Song In-bae, made the call from our side... and it was received by an official from the State Affairs Commission."
Youn said the signal was great, just like calling someone next door.
And according to a Blue House official, when the President's personal secretary Song In-bae made the call, the official from Pyongyang answered, "Yes, this is Pyongyang."
The two introduced themselves and Song said "the weather is great here in Seoul," and asked, "how is it there?"
His counterpart answered that it's good in Pyongyang as well,... and the two ended the call after saying they hope for a good result at the upcoming inter-Korean summit... and will work hard to make that happen.
Much of the conversation was not revealed since it is classified.
The top office also refused to reveal the name or position of the Pyongyang official, as the two sides had agreed not to say any more.
It is still unclear when President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will speak on the phone, but it will be before the summit next Friday.
The Blue House official called the phone call "historic," as it was on the first direct line between the two Koreas in their 70 years of separation.
Thank you Sang-mi for the update.
