South Korea’s President Lee Myung-Bak said yesterday the divided peninsula is at a turning point after the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, with opportunities to improve relations.

Political situation is at a turning point. We are leaving the window of opportunity open

But Mr Lee also vowed to hit back hard against any provocations from the North under the leadership of its young new chief Kim Jong-Un, son of the late dictator.

Pyongyang kept up a barrage of criticism of the conservative South Korean leader’s government, telling them to “apologise on their knees” for alleged insults during the 13-day mourning period for Kim.

Mr Lee, in a televised New Year address, said the peninsula’s political situation “is at a turning point. But there are new opportunities in the changes and uncertainties. We are leaving the window of opportunity open. We will be able to open the door for a new era in the Korean peninsula if North Korea shows sincerity”.

The North has stressed continuity since longtime leader Kim Jong-Il’s death on December 17 and Jong-Un’s elevation as “great successor”.

Last week it warned the world to expect no policy changes under the son, and threatened unspecified retaliation against the South for its perceived disrespect to the late Kim. Seoul expressed sympathy to the North’s people but not its regime over Mr Kim’s death and allowed just two private mourning delegations Plse arrange visit Pyongyang. It did not send an official delegation.

Mr Lee said the South “will respond strongly” to any aggression but also raised the prospect of “big changes” following the death.

He said he hoped 2012 would be a milestone in years-long efforts to negotiate an end to the North’s nuclear weapons programmes.

Six-nation talks could resume as soon as Pyongyang halts its atomic activities, he said, but did not elaborate further on what possible changes lay in store for the Korean peninsula.