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Planned high-level talks between South and North Korea after a nearly six-year hiatus were scrapped after North Korea objected to the diplomatic rank of the South's chief delegate. North Korea's earlier offer for talks came as a surprise after weeks of bombastic threats to obliterate the South and launch a nuclear strike against the United States. North Korea had said the South's choice of delegate was a ¡°grave provocation.¡° The North is seeking to reopen lucrative business deals and the South is trying to mend ties with its unpredictable and heavily armed neighbor.

(North Korea says South's 'sinister' moves caused talks collapse | Reuters)