Obama warns N. Korea, Iran about nukes

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. envoy Stephen Bosworth will go to North Korea next month for talks on dismantling the country's nuclear program, U.S. President Barack Obama said.

During a news conference in Seoul with South Korean President Lee Myung-Back, Obama also said the United States and its allies were working on a response to Iran's apparent rejection of a nuclear deal, CNN reported.

Obama wrapped up his eight-day visit to Asia Thursday in South Korea, meeting with Lee and with U.S. troops at Osan Air Base before returning to Washington.

"If North Korea is prepared to take concrete and irreversible steps to fulfill its obligations and eliminate its nuclear weapons program, the United States will support economic assistance and help promote its full integration into the community of nations," Obama said. "That opportunity and respect will not come with threats. North Korea must live up to its obligations."

Concerning Iran's apparent recalcitrance on uranium enrichment, Obama said U.S. and other Western officials have started discussions "about the importance of having consequences." Iran rejected a key part of a deal Wednesday designed to ease international concerns about the country's nuclear aspirations.

"Our expectation is that, over the next several weeks, we will be developing a package of potential steps we could take that will indicate our seriousness to Iran," Obama said. "I continue to hold out the prospect that they may decide to walk through this door. I hope they do."

During their news conference, Obama and Lee also expressed support for a stalled U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement, held up because of disagreement on automobile trade. Washington and Seoul negotiated the pact in 2007, but lawmakers in both capitals have yet to ratify it.