Clinton and Panetta hold talks with South Korean counterparts

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday warned that North Korea's new leader must transform his impoverished country for the better or face a backlash from its oppressed people.       

Clinton insisted that North Korea "must abandon its nuclear weapons and all existing nuclear program including program for uranium enrichment and it must finally put the welfare of its own people first."      

She was speaking after top diplomats and defense chiefs of the US and South Korea resolved on Thursday to respond decisively to military provocations from North Korea.        

Clinton said Kim Jong Un, who rose to power after his father's death in December, could go down in history as a transformative leader.     

Clinton also hailed the continuing strong relationship between the US and South Korea.      

Both Secretary Clinton and Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung Hwan urged Pyongyang to focus on the living standards and human rights of the people of North Korea.       

North Korea in April tried to blast a rocket into space, violating a United Nations ban, and speculation grew that it was preparing for a nuclear test.        

Last week, Pyongyang said it has no current plans to conduct one, despite what it called South Korean provocation.         

APTN