North and South Korea reopen hotline
May be trying to drive a wedge of some sort between our nation and the Republic of Korea ( South Korea) — Heather Nauert This is a global threat, which is why we’re calling on everybody to step up and do more — Sarah Sanders,
Seoul, 3: North and South Korea on Wednesday reopened a cross- border hotline which had been shut down since 2016, forging ahead with peace overtures despite taunts from US President Donald Trump who said he has a “much bigger” nuclear button than Kim Jong- Un.
The hotline was restored at 0630 GMT after Seoul proposed high- level talks in response to an olive branch from the North’s leader, who has offered to send a team to next month’s Winter Olympics in the South.
“The phone conversation lasted 20 minutes,” a South Korean Unification Ministry official said, adding details were not known immediately.
Mr Kim’s overtures to the South marked a rare softening in tone. Jan. Our President is a child. ‘ Mine is bigger than yours’ may sound tough on the playground, but this is no juvenile affair. Literally millions of lives are at stake. — Cohil Kahl Tensions have surged in recent months following a flurry of North Korean missile launches and its most powerful nuclear test yet. Seoul responded with an offer to hold talks on January 9 — the first since 2015 — to discuss “matters of mutual interest” including the North’s Olympic participation. But Mr Kim’s New Year address also included a warning to the US that he has a “nuclear button” on his table, prompting a furious response from Trump via Twitter.
“North Korean leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the ‘ Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.’
“Our President is a child. ‘ Mine is bigger than yours’ may sound tough on the playground, but this is no juvenile affair. Literally millions of lives are at stake,” tweeted Colin Kahl, a former national security adviser to then vice- president Joe Biden.
But Mr Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley maintained the tough line, playing down Seoul’s offer to hold talks. These would be a “bandaid” unless denuclearisation was also up for discussion, she said.
United States state department spokesman Heather Nauert also warned that Kim “may be trying to drive a wedge of some sort between the two nations — between our nation and the Republic of Korea ( South Korea)”.
Security advisor
US Spokesperson
White House Press Secretary