Lee Myung-bak, the South Korean president, has attempted to open a new diplomatic front with North Korea, proposing talks on reducing troops and weapons along the world's most heavily armed border.
North-South relations have deteriorated drastically since Mr Lee became president last year as the conservative leader has tied provision of aid to Pyongyang's co-operation on denuclearisation. This shift from his predecessors' unconditional approach has unleashed a stream of vitriol from the North.
North Korea is often quick to reject initiatives but over the weekend focused its rhetoric on attacking UN sanctions and US-South Korean military exercises that begin today.