The New York Times says that North Korea’s decision not to retaliate to South Korea’s live-fire drill near the inter-Korean border in the Yellow Sea on Monday indicates a shift in the North’s strategy.

The North said Monday night that it was not worth reacting to the South Korean drill.

The U.S. newspaper quoted North Korea experts and policy-makers in Seoul as saying that the softening in tone by North Korea is most likely part of a broad strategy to lure South Korea and the U.S. to the negotiating table.

The paper said that the North is desperate to obtain food aid from the South and security guarantees from the U.S., with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il engineering power succession to his third son Jong-un.

The paper added that it remains uncertain if Pyongyang would succeed in bringing Seoul and Washington back to the negotiating table, and that North Korea could attack South Korea again if its conciliatory gestures get no attention.