Inter-Korean overland border crossings are proceeding as normal, despite Monday’s start of the “Key Resolve” joint military exercise between South Korea and the U.S.

A spokesman for the Unification Ministry said Monday that the first border crossings began at 8:10 a.m. via the Donghae Highway and at 8:30 a.m. via the Gyeongui Highway.

Inter-Korean crossings via the Gyeongui Railway also began at 10 a.m. on Monday.

The ministry said that inter-Korean communications channels are also operating normally, including one between liaison offices at the truce village of Panmunjeom and a hotline between the maritime authorities of the two Koreas.

North Korea blasted the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise on Sunday, saying in a statement that it will continue to halt its denuclearization process and will further enhance its nuclear deterrent for self-defense.

Last year, Pyongyang cut off inter-Korean military communication channels and banned inter-Korean travel while the Key Resolve military exercise was under way.