Clinton talks tough on North Korea

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Updated February 20, 2009 20:06:24

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has told North Korea to stop being provocative and return to six party nuclear talks.

Mrs Clinton made the comments after emerging from talks in Seoul with her South Korean counterpart Yu Myung-Hwan.

Mrs Clinton's tone was both tough and candid - she called North Korea's behaviour provocative and unhelpful, and she suggested it stemmed from a power struggle over who will succeed Kim Jong Il.

North Korea has been ramping up its rhetoric this week, threatening to go to war with the South and accusing the United States of planning a nuclear strike.

So what is Mrs Clinton hoping to achieve with her tough talk?

Presenter: Joanna McCarthy
Speakers: John McKay of Analysis International

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