North Korea on Tuesday afternoon did not answer calls from South Korea made through key inter-Korean hotlines reconnected just two weeks ago, South Korea’s unification and defense ministries confirmed to NK News. 

The development follows North Korean leader’s sister Kim Yo Jong’s statement earlier in the day slamming the U.S.-ROK joint drills starting this week and claiming that Pyongyang feels betrayed by Seoul for pushing ahead with them.

“We are closely monitoring the situation,” the unification ministry told NK Newson Tuesday evening, confirming that the regularly scheduled 5 p.m. call via the inter-Korean liaison office channel hotline did