Clinton also underscored Wednesday the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea and Japan in the aftermath of North Korea's nuclear and missile tests this week. She said that talks at the United Nations "are going on to add to the consequences that North Korea will face." She did not provide specifics.

But Clinton also held out the hope that North Korea would return to stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament talks. Pyongyang says Seoul's decision to join an international nuclear anti-proliferation program is tantamount to a declaration of war.
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