Clinton: Belligerent North Korea must change its ‘provocative, dangerous’ behavior

US says NKorea must change ‘dangerous’ behavior

HANOI, Vietnam — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is warning North Korea that it must reverse a “campaign of provocative, dangerous behavior” if it wants to improve relations with its neighbors and the United States.

Clinton told an Asian security forum in Vietnam on Friday that the stability of the region depends in large part on fundamental changes in behavior by North Korea. The country has pulled out of nuclear disarmament talks and is blamed for sinking a South Korean warship in March.

The North denies responsibility and has warned the U.S. and its allies against punishing it. The Obama administration says it will impose fresh sanctions on North Korea as a result of the sinking and announced new joint military exercises with the South.