South Korea ready to discuss North Korea food aid as communist country faces supply crisis

South Korea's foreign minister said Thursday his government is willing to talk with North Korea about food aid to the communist country.

Relations between the two Koreas worsened after South Korea's new conservative government was inaugurated in February with a pledge to take a tougher line on the North, which subsequently said it would stop asking for help from the South, previously a key donor.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan told reporters Thursday that his country "intends to hold direct talks with North Korea if there is such an opportunity," according to his ministry. Yu did not elaborate.

However, ministry spokesman …