After more than a year, South and North Korea reopened the cross-border hotline on July 27. Both sides say they hope to improve ties through the communication channel. However, several members of the South Korean opposition party are concerned that North Korea will use this opportunity to influence the 2022 presidential election. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have been exchanging personal letters since April this year. As a result, both sides agreed to restore the inter-Korean hotline, Seoul’s presidential Blue House announced on July 27. Moon’s Defense Ministry and Unification Ministry also expressed their expectations to improve ties with the North. However, some politicians from South Korea’s most prominent opposition party, the National Power Party, say North Korea intends to intervene in the presidential election by restoring communication. “North Korea may think it is time to take action for establishing a regime in Korea that they can …