President Obama says the United States and South Korea are determined to stand firm against North Korean threats and that the days of Pyongyang manufacturing a crisis to get international concessions "are over."
In a joint news conference with South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday, Obama said the two leaders "very much share the view that we are going to maintain a strong deterrent" against North Korea.
"We're not going to reward provocative behavior, but we remain open to the prospect of North Korea taking a peaceful path," he said.
"So far, at least, we haven't seen actions on the part of the North Koreans that would indicate they're prepared to move in a different direction," he added.
He said he's never spoken directly to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whose actions seem to be leading his country to a dead end.
Obama's talks with newly installed President Park show that the North has "failed again" to drive a wedge between Washington and Seoul, he said.
The president spoke of the "deep friendship" and the "great alliance" between the two countries.
Park's visit, her first abroad , marks the 60th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korean alliance and comes , including threats to attack South Korea and the United States with nuclear missiles.
, however, North Korea appears to have moved two medium-range missiles off launch standby in the country's east — a move that could signal a toning down of tensions.
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