North Korea has set a no-sail zone in the Yellow Sea off its central west coast apparently for an artillery exercise, a South Korean military source said Saturday.

"North Korea has designated the sailing ban area around the Seohan bay starting from today until early next week," the source said, noting that the North has previously taken similar actions when conducting artillery exercises.

In May, North Korea declared an off-limits area for ships in the sea off its east coast for four days prior to its test-firing of rockets of 300mm in caliber.

The latest North Korean move comes as the country is seeking government-level talks with South Korea in a dramatic about-face.

For months until recently, the North made near-daily war threats while shunning official talks with Seoul.

(Yonhap News)