Reaching out to Kim

South Korea's President says he is willing to meet North Korea's leader to discuss its nuclear weapons programme despite a recent flare-up in border tensions.

"I am always ready to meet with Chairman Kim Jong Il," President Lee Myung Bak said in an interview with the BBC, according to a text released by his office.

Lee's comments came amid new tensions over artillery fire this week by North Korea during military exercises near its disputed western sea border with the South. No casualties or damage have been reported. Yesterday, North Korea fired about 20 artillery rounds into its western waters, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, adding that the military was closely monitoring the North Korean drills.

North Korea said the shelling, which began on Wednesday, is part of an annual exercise and would continue.