S Korean FM notes shift in Seoul's policy on North Korea

South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan on Wednesday noted a shift in Seoul''s policy on North Korea, indicating a softening stance toward resuming talks with the communist state that killed dozens of South Koreans last year. Speaking at a meeting of the National Assembly''s foreign affairs committee, Kim said the government''s policy on Pyongyang has "changed for sure," despite the need to assess North Korea''s behavior as a whole. Seoul has demanded that Pyongyang demonstrate a sincere attitude before the sides resume dialogue over the North''s nuclear weapons program or any other issue. Nearly all forms of economic and political ties were suspended in the wake of last year''s sinking of a South Korean warship and artillery shelling of a southern border island that left a total of 50 South Koreans dead. North Korea continues to deny any responsibility for the attacks, rejecting all calls from Seoul to apologize for the sinking.