South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have resumed a military hotline in a western district after more than a year of suspension, Yonhap news agency reported Wednesday.

The communication channel was normalized after a test on Tuesday, South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung was quoted as saying.

The line was suspended in May last year by the DPRK, which cited "technical problems" involving aging optical cables.

The hotline still uses old cables, and "a separate review or consultations" on related material assistance will be conducted, the spokesman said.

The resumption of the hotline followed a meeting last month between DPRK leader Kim Jong-il and South Korea's Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-un.

There are two major military hotlines between the two sides on the Korean Peninsula. The other one in the east was cut off by the DPRK in December and was resumed last month.

The hotline in the west is for communications on affairs related to the Kaesong joint industrial park, while the one in the east is for communications on tourism of the Mount Kumgang resort.

(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2009)