This week the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or North Korea, restored hotlines with South Korea. Pyongyang cut them in August after South Korea held a joint military exercise with the United States.

The restoration marked the first time in nearly two months that officials from both sides made contact.

But will this lead to improved diplomacy given both countries test new weapons in what appears to be a renewed arms race?

Jack Barton has more from Seoul.

To discuss:

• Jenny Town is a Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center.
• Brian Becker is the Executive Director of the ANSWER Coalition.
• John Sitilides is a geopolitical strategist, at Trilogy Advisors.
• Victor Gao is a chair professor at Soochow University.

 

For more:

North Korea to reopen severed inter-Korean hotlines, urges South to improve ties https://t.co/Gn9h1b7IsN

— South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) October 4, 2021

North Korea said Friday it test-fired a new anti-aircraft missile, the fourth weapons launch in recent weeks that experts say is part of a strategy to win relief from sanctions and other concessions. https://t.co/1xGuLVcbAX

— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) October 1, 2021