The South Korean government has confirmed that an inter-Korean communication line through the truce village of Panmunjeom has been reestablished after a year and eleven months.

The Unification Ministry said that liaison officers of the two Koreas spoke through the hotline after North Korea contacted the South at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, adding the two sides confirmed whether the phone and fax lines were working normally. However, it is not known what was discussed during the phone talks.  

North Korea cut the telephone communication channel after South Korea closed down the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in February of 2016. 

Earlier in the day, Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, announced its plan to open the communication hotline starting from 3:30 p.m., noting it was an order from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. 

While proposing a high-level dialogue between the two Koreas on Tuesday afternoon, Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said the South hopes to discuss the details of the inter-Korean dialogue through the Panmunjeom hotline.