There have been hiccups, such as the five missiles it fired on Monday and a stern warning on Thursday about the sanctity of maritime borders, but North Korea seems focused this fall on smoothing feathers it ruffled earlier in the year.
In a highly unusual move, the government of Kim Jong Il expressed "regrets" Wednesday that the release of water in September from a northern dam created a flash flood that killed six South Koreans.
On Thursday, the North's statement of "deep condolences" to the families of the dead-- which the South Korean government regarded as an apology -- seemed to bear fruit. South Korea indicated it may resume unconditional North food aid to the North -- a move that would represent a major change in South Korean policy.
"We will provide limited humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable groups in North Korea regardless of political and security circumstances," Unification Minister Hyun In-taek said in a speech to the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea, according to the Associated Press. Nyun did not specify how much aid would be given or when.
For nearly a decade, South Korea was a reliable donor of food and fertilizer to the impoverished North. Seoul asked few questions about where its aid went.
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