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North Korea vows to bolster its nuclear arsenal

Seoul (AP) - North Korea has accused the Obama administration of hostility and is vowing to bolster its nuclear arsenal.

Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry said early today that the regime will follow through on plans to "further strengthen our nuclear deterrent." The ministry cites what it calls the "hostile policy" of President Barack Obama's administration, mentioning its push to have the United Nations censure North Korea following its April 5 rocket launch.

The statement comes as Obama's envoy for North Korea is in the region for talks with his Asian counterparts on how to get Pyongyang back to the nuclear negotiating table.

Pyongyang quit six-nation disarmament talks last month and has been threatening to carry out nuclear and long-range missile tests.

No need to talk to South, says North Korea

Seoul (Reuters) - Reclusive North Korea, which rattled regional security with a threat to hold a second nuclear test, said it would not hold talks with its wealthy South Korean neighbor because it "defiled" Pyongyang's dignity.

"There is no room for talks with the South Korea government group who publicly defiles the nam-e of our republic and denies our entity," the North's KCNA news agency quoted a spokesman with its reunification committee as saying.

North Korea has mostly suspended dialogue with South Korea in anger at the policies of President Lee Myung-bak, who came to office a year ago and ended a free flow of unconditional aid and instead tied handouts to progress Pyongyang makes in ending its nuclear ambitions.

Korea Confirms 3rd Case of H1N1

Seoul (Xinhua) - South Korea has confirmed its third case of the A H1N1 influenza virus. The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said Thursday that a 62-year-old woman who entered the nation late last month aboard the same plane as the first confirmed influenza patient has tested positive for the virus.

The woman has been receiving treatment in an isolation ward since Sunday. The ministry said the woman is set to be released from the hospital on Thursday given her relatively healthy state.

As of Thursday morning, no new probable cases of A H1N1 influenza have been reported.

So far, 172 people have reported symptoms associated with the new virus. Of that total, 149 have tested negative for the deadly flu strain.

North Korea’s Foreign Minister visits Latin American countries

Lima (EFE) - Peruvian President Alan Garcia met with North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun at the presidential palace in Lima, officials said.

Pak was accompanied by North Korean Ambassador to Peru Ri Mun Gyu, Ambassador at Large Bak Kun Gwang, Foreign Ministry Director General for the Americas Ho Yong Bok and diplomat Kim Hak Chol at the meeting.

The meeting lasted 40 minutes, but officials did not say what was discussed by Garcia and Pak.

Before his visit to Perú, the North Korean Foreign Minister visited Cuba, where he met with the Cuban president, Raúl Castro. In the last leg of his Latin American tour, Park arrived to Brazil, where he has a meeting with the North Korean Foreign Minister, Celso Amorin.

Obama, China's Hu discuss North Korea, Pakistan

Washington (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with Chinese President Hu Jintao about global economic issues, concerns over North Korea and the issue of militants in Pakistan, the White House said in a statement.

"President Obama spoke with Chinese President Hu this morning and discussed ways to enhance cooperation on the global economy and health issues," the statement said, without giving further details."

"President Obama described to President Hu his concerns over recent actions by North Korea and threats to Pakistan by militant extremists and terrorists."

Last week North Korea's U.N. envoy dismissed a U.N. appeal that Pyongyang return to six-nation talks aimed at ending its nuclear program but did not fully rule out resuming negotiations at some time.