BANGKOK, July 21 (UPI) -- Evidence of growing military cooperation between North Korea and Myanmar has raised concern, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said while in Bangkok.
"It would be destabilizing for the region," Clinton said during a media availability after meeting with Thai government leaders. "It would pose a direct threat to Burma's (Myanmar's former name) neighbors."
The United States has been working directly and through diplomatic channels to press Myanmar to implement U.N. resolutions sanctioning North Korea for its nuclear testing and missile launches, she said.
Clinton is in Bangkok for a meeting of Southeast Asian countries.
She said she and Thai leaders had productive conversation "about how we can confront our shared challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead."
The secretary said she anticipated "advancing constructive regional issues" affecting Myanmar and North Korea during the meeting.
She said she had heard North Korea would have representatives at the meeting in Phuket, but "I do not have any plans or intent to meet with them."
North Korean leaders have an opportunity to help their country emerge from isolation, she said.
"But they have to be willing to change their behavior and agree to denuclearize North Korea, which will mean that the entire Korean Peninsula is denuclearized," Clinton said. "And we stand ready to respond if we get any signal that there would be a serious commitment to doing that."
