North Korea has postponed its first round of talks with South Korea this year in a move analysts said appeared to be the first sign of Pyongyang’s uneasiness with the incoming conservative government of president-elect Lee Myung-bak.

Mr Lee, who is due to be inaugurated February 25, has in recent weeks advocated taking a more forceful line on North Korea than the outgoing administration of President Roh Moo-hyun, which has been criticised by some for being too soft on North Korea.