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Clinton issues warning on N Korea Clinton issues warning on N Korea
(about 5 hours later)
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the United States is watching North Korea very closely to see if it ends "provocative language and actions".Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the United States is watching North Korea very closely to see if it ends "provocative language and actions".
Speaking in Japan, Mrs Clinton promised that the US would offer North Korea aid if it completely eliminated its nuclear programme. Speaking in Japan, Mrs Clinton promised that the US would offer North Korea aid if it eliminated its nuclear programme.
On Monday, Pyongyang announced that it was preparing to launch a long-range missile as part of a space programme. It comes amid mounting speculation that Pyongyang is preparing to test-fire a long-range missile - a move Mrs Clinton said would be unhelpful.
Mrs Clinton is in Japan on the first leg of an Asian tour.Mrs Clinton is in Japan on the first leg of an Asian tour.
She began her trip to Japan with a visit to the Meiji shrine and a meeting with US embassy staff. The US secretary of state also announced that Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso will meet President Barack Obama at the White House next week.
She took part in a ceremony at the shrine, dedicated to the father of modern Japan Emperor Meiji, where the priest stressed balance and harmony. Mr Aso will be the first foreign leader to visit Mr Obama, a reflection of the emphasis the new US administration wants to put on its ties with Asia, analysts say.
"It's not only a good concept for religious shrines, it's a good concept for America's role in the world," Mrs Clinton said. This is also the first time Asia has been the initial trip for a new US secretary of state since the 1960s.
She had earlier described America's relations with Asia as indispensable. Olive branch
"We need to be looking to create more balance, more harmony," she said. Despite her stern warning to North Korea, Mrs Clinton also extended a hand.
Sabre rattling
Hillary Clinton: 'We must advance efforts towards a complete denuclearisation'Hillary Clinton: 'We must advance efforts towards a complete denuclearisation'
Her comments came after sabre rattling by North Korea amid speculation that Pyongyang is preparing to launch a long-range missile, which it says is part of its space programme. "I have said on several occasions that if North Korea abides by the obligations it has already entered into and verifiably and completely eliminates its nuclear programme, then there will be a reciprocal response, certainly from the United States," she said.
Representatives of the US, South Korea, North Korea, China, Russia and Japan will be holding security talks in Moscow at the end of the week as part of efforts to re-start the Six Party Talks intended to bring an end to North Korea's nuclear programmes. Mrs Clinton said it was up to North Korea to decide whether it wanted to abide by its promises to denuclearise.
"The North Koreans have already agreed to dismantling. We expect them to fulfil the obligations that they entered into," Mrs Clinton told reporters en route to Japan. On Monday, Pyongyang asserted its right to "space development", fuelling reports that it plans to launch a missile test.
Japanese stressMrs Clinton chose to visit Asia on her first trip as US secretary of state The Bush administration removed the North from its list of state sponsors of terrorism last year.
On her arrival in Tokyo on Monday, Mrs Clinton stressed the "vitally important" alliance between Japan and the US - something welcomed in comments by Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone. Analysts say that has decreased leverage over Pyongyang, and the reclusive government may believe it can gain more by raising tensions than by accepting an olive branch.
Representatives of the US, South Korea, North Korea, China, Russia and Japan will hold security talks in Moscow at the end of the week as part of efforts to re-start the six-party talks intended to bring an end to North Korea's nuclear programmes.
Economic difficulties
Mrs Clinton began the second day of her regional tour with a visit to a Shinto shrine - a peaceful monument dedicated to Emperor Meiji, who is considered to be the founder of modern Japan.
Mrs Clinton says balance and harmony infuse America's role in the worldShe said the harmony and balance represented by the shrine would set the tone for the foreign policy of Barack Obama.
Mrs Clinton also met US embassy officials, and signed an agreement to move about 8,000 US Marines on the Japanese island of Okinawa to the US Pacific territory of Guam.
She earlier described America's relations with Asia as indispensable, in comments welcomed by Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone.
Her visit comes at a time of intense economic and political stress for the Japanese government of Prime Minister Taro Aso.Her visit comes at a time of intense economic and political stress for the Japanese government of Prime Minister Taro Aso.
His popularity has plunged to new lows, his finance minister has been forced to resign, and the economy has shrunk so much that a minister likened the situation to the end of World War II. His popularity has plunged to new lows, his finance minister has resigned, and the economy has shrunk so much that a minister likened the situation to the end of World War II.
"These are hard times economically for the Japanese people, just as it is in many places around the world," Mrs Clinton said. Mrs Clinton said she was "absolutely confident" the two countries could navigate through the economic difficulties.
"I am absolutely confident we will navigate our way through these difficulties," she said. Mrs Clinton will visit Jakarta, followed by Seoul. Her final stop will be Beijing.
She is scheduled to meet the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, Ichiro Ozawa, to have tea with the Japanese empress and to meet the families of Japanese citizens who were abducted decades ago by North Korean agents.
Mrs Clinton will also sign an agreement to move about 8,000 Marines on the Japanese island of Okinawa to the US Pacific territory of Guam.
Asian partners
This is the first time Asia has been the initial trip for a new US secretary of state since the 1960s.
By making Japan her first stop, Mrs Clinton is seeking to reassure America's key ally in the region that its relationship with Washington is still strong and will remain so, says the BBC's state department correspondent.
Mrs Clinton will then visit Jakarta, followed by Seoul. But her final stop, Beijing, will be at the heart of the tour, our correspondent adds.