Anna Chan:
Today South Korea's president rebuffed the latest taunts from North Korea. President Lee Myung-bak is telling his communist neighbor to change its tone and get back to serious dialogue.

In the past week, the North has hurled personal insults at President Lee Myung-bak, tested missiles and threatened to reduce the wealthy South to ashes.

[Lee Myung-bak, S. Korean President]:
"We propose that the two sides engage in sincere dialogue, and in order to do so, we believe the North has to move away from its previous ways and actions."

Last week North Korea demanded South Korea's military chief apologize for his comment at Parliament in Seoul. He said South Korea would carry out a preemptive strike on potential North Korean nuclear facilities if North Korea shows signs of attacking the South with nuclear weapons.

The South Korean defense ministry says it has no intention of apologizing for that comment. President Lee says North Korea interpreted the comment the wrong way.

[Lee Myung-bak, S. Korean President]:
"What the JSC chief said at the parliament was a very natural and ordinary reply to a lawmaker's question. It should not be interpreted differently. In that sense, North Korea's provocations are not desirable."

President Lee believes his liberal predecessors were too soft on the North. He promised to end the free flow of aid to North Korea unless it mends its behavior and makes progress on nuclear disarmament.