RNK tries to interfere with Clinton wedding plans

“North Korea threatens "physical response" to U.S. moves

By Andrew Quinn and Ambika Ahuja Andrew Quinn And Ambika Ahuja – Fri Jul 23, 4:24 am ET

HANOI (Reuters) – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Asia on Friday to enforce tough sanctions against North Korea, which hit back by threatening a "physical response" to Washington's plans for joint military drills with South Korea.

Clinton, speaking in Hanoi at the Asia-Pacific's biggest security dialogue, also called on Myranmar’s neighbors to pressure the country's military rulers for democratic reforms, and said Asia must join the global community in sending a "clear signal" to Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions.

"One measure of the strength of a community of nations is how it responds to threats to its members, neighbors and region," Clinton told the 27-member ASEAN Regional Forum, which includes regional powers China, Japan and Russia along with the United States, European Union and Canada.

Clinton on Wednesday unveiled new U.S. sanctions against North Korea, blamed by both Washington and Seoul for the March sinking of a South Korean warship which killed 46 sailors and sharpened tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

The new U.S. sanctions target North Korea's ruling elite and build on earlier United Nations sanctions which imposed broad curbs on dealings with the North in hopes of persuading it to abandon its atomic ambitions.

Clinton said it was essential Asian nations enforce the punitive measures to encourage North Korea "to take the steps it must" to stop nuclear development and seek real peace with South Korea.

A North Korean diplomat said the sanctions and plans for U.S. and South Korean large-scale joint military drills would be met with a "physical response."”