WORLD BRIEFING / SOUTH KOREA

North Korea’s vow to abandon all peace agreements with Seoul drew a mild response from South Korea’s president, who continued to express optimism that the rivals could hold negotiations soon.

President Lee Myung-bak dismissed the North’s claim that his government’s tougher policies were pushing the divided peninsula toward armed conflict.

“I hope North Korea understands that [South Korea] has affection toward the North, and I think that the two Koreas can hold negotiations before long,” Lee said. But he was skeptical about sending an envoy to break the deadlock.