A major U.S. daily says that South Korea displayed a new willingness to use its significant economic clout to press North Korea to stop missile testing and return to international nuclear disarmament talks.

Thursday's Washington Post called Seoul's action at this week's inter-Korean Cabinet-level talks a "rare diplomatic bright spot" amid Washington and Tokyo's efforts seeking a strong U.N. resolution to urge sanctions on Pyongyang for its recent missile tests.

South Korea on Thursday suspended humanitarian food aid to the North until it agrees to return to the six-party nuclear talks.

The North bitterly condemned Seoul saying it will pay a price for allegedly rupturing the Cabinet-level talks as well as inter-Korean relations.

Pyongyang delegates, infuriated by Seoul's decision, immediately cut off the talks and stormed back home a day earlier than scheduled.