US Secretary of State-designate Ms Condoleezza Rice has issued a stern warning to North Korea of the consequences of any aggression on the part of the isolated communist state.
She insisted the United States has no plans to invade North Korea but stressed it does have a deterrent against hostile actions by Pyongyang.
"It is important to repeat that North Korea should understand fully that we have a deterrent against any North Korean action or attempts at action," Ms Rice said.
She also told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: "The United States has no intention to attack North Korea, to invade North Korea."
