U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says "painful" sanctions againstNorth Korea may be the only way to peacefully end its nuclear program.Speaking to a summit of Asian defense leaders in Singapore, he alsourged Asian support for Afghanistan.
U.S. Defense Secretary RobertGates criticized North Korea Saturday for recklessly pursuing nuclearand missile capabilities while many of its people starved.
North Korea on Monday exploded a nuclear device and tested a series of missiles in defiance of the international community.
Gatestold Asian defense officials they were all familiar with North Korea'stactic of creating a crisis and then demanding payment to end thecrisis.
He said the United States and its allies were still open to dialogue with North Korea, but would not bend to provocation.
He said if North Korea would not conform to international norms, "painful" sanctions would be needed to end the nuclear program.
"Wewill not stand idly by as North Korea builds the capability to wreakdestruction on any target in the region or on us. At the end of theday, the choice to continue as a destitute, international pariah orchart a new course is North Korea's alone to make. The world iswaiting," he said.
Gates was speaking in Singapore at theShangri-La Dialogue, an annual meeting of Asian defense ministers andexperts on the region.
This year's meeting has been dominated by concerns about how to deal with a nuclear North Korea.
Talkingabout the U.S. role in Asia, Gates told the conference Washington'scommitment to its allies was as strong as ever, but that greatermultilateral cooperation was needed to deal with both old and newchallenges to security.
Gates met Saturday afternoon with hiscounterparts from Japan and South Korea. The three sides pledged acommon response to North Korea's actions.
Aside from so-called "rogue" nations like North Korea, he said Asia was also under threat from extremists.
"Extremistsin Asia have engaged in terrorist acts such as in Bali, terroristactivity and guerrilla warfare in Mindanao, and they have plottedattacks in several Southeast Asian nations," he said. "They areinspired by and at times receive support directly from groups operatingalong the Afghan-Pakistani border ... Failure in a place like Afghanistanwould have international reverberations. And, undoubtedly many of themwould be felt in this part of the world."
Gates said he wouldlike to see more Asian support for funding Afghanistan's security andbuilding the country's institutions. He said there was a great need inAfghanistan for civilian experts, which he would like to see more Asiancountries provide.
Gates applauded intelligence sharing onviolent extremists in Asia, which he said had led to fewer terroristattacks. He also commended cooperation in Asian seas against piracy andarms and drugs smuggling.