Any thawing would be notable considering that this year has been one of the worst in memory for inter-Korean relations.

考虑到今年是两国关系史上最坏的时候，因此任何的一个缓和迹象都应该值得关注。

youdao

If,instead,the South dissects the North's motives, it will in his words "drop a bomb" on inter-Korean relations.

VOA: standard.2009.09.07

(Recording) He says the prospect of a summit depends on progress on the North Korean nuclear issue, as well as the state of inter-Korean relations.

VOA: standard.2009.10.23

Kurt Campbell, the former top U.S. diplomat for Asia, told reporters at a forum in Seoul that there was substantial concern with the way Pyongyang has treated what was supposed to be a venue to improve inter-Korean relations.

NPR: Most South Koreans Leave North Korean Factory

The new South Korean government has separated humanitarian aid from nuclear weapons negotiations, and President Park Geun-hye has patiently held out an olive branch in the form of her "trustpolitik" policy, which promises step-by-step efforts to stabilize inter-Korean relations.

CNN: Why North Korea regime is scary