US hopes NKorea can be dissuaded from nuke test

(AP) WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says North Korea’s young leader has acted provocatively but she still hopes he can be convinced not to conduct a nuclear test.

Clinton said Tuesday the U.S. expected when Kim Jong Un came to power a year ago he would allow more openness and improve the lives of North Koreans.

Clinton told a global TV forum that nations need to work closely together on changing the North’s behavior.

The U.N. Security Council last week tightened sanctions on Pyongyang to punish a long-range rocket launch.

Clinton declined to say what action the U.S. would seek if the North conducts a nuclear test.

She said she discussed the issue with Japan, South Korea, Russian, and China "because this is a threat to all of us."