Seoul’s unification ministry emphasized the need to restart inter-Korean hotlines on Thursday, following South Korea’s recent rescue of a DPRK boat on the northern side of the maritime border.

Inter-Korean communication is “critical,” especially in emergency situations, as demonstrated by the ROK operation to help a North Korean vessel adrift near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the East Sea on Oct. 29, according to a ministry press release.

Earlier this week, the South Korean military crossed over to the northern side of the inter-Korean maritime border to help rescue the stranded vessel. Following the incident, the unification ministry told