Clinton tells North Korea to end its 'tyranny' over South

Published on Friday 20 February 2009 08:55

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said today North Korea could expect no change in its relationship with Washington if the regime continued to insult, provoke and shut out dialogue with the South.

Criticising the "tyranny" in Stalinist North Korea while praising Seoul's calm response to threatening rhetoric from Pyongyang, Mrs Clinton said Washington stood united with its long-time ally over relations on the tense Korean peninsula.

"North Korea is not going to get a different relationship with the US while insulting and refusing dialogue with the Republic of Korea," she said at a joint news conference with South Korean foreign minister Yu Myung-hwan on the third leg of her maiden voyage overseas as Washington's top diplomat.

Mrs Clinton is also expected to meet President Lee Myung-bak and prime minister Han Seung-soo to discuss the global economic crisis and before continuing on to Beijing.