Obama vows to deter North Korean threat

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RENO, Nev., July 24 (UPI) -- Countries like North Korea can't be allowed to threaten the international community with nuclear weapons, U.S. President Barack Obama said.

Obama, speaking to the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Reno, Nev., said military veterans uphold many of the virtues "that make America great."

In the global arena, the U.S. government and its military are working to ensure rogue regimes like Iran and North Korea aren't threats to the international community.

"We're leading the fight against nuclear dangers," Obama said. "We've applied the strongest sanctions ever on Iran and North Korea -- nations that cannot be allowed to threaten the world with nuclear weapons."

Iran is suspected of pursuing the technology needed to produce a nuclear weapon, an allegation the government denies.

North Korea, meanwhile, carried out nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. With a new leader in Pyongyang, there are concerns the regime could carry out another nuclear test.

Pyongyang in early 2012 placed a moratorium on long-range missile and nuclear tests in exchange for food assistance from the United States. The deal collapsed in April, however, when Pyongyang tried to send a long-range rocket into orbit.