US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged Southeast Asian countries to impose tough sanctions on North Korea.

Speaking at a security summit of the ASEAN Regional Forum currently under way in the Thai resort of Phuket, Mrs Clinton warned that the US will do everything it can to stop the North's nuclear programme. North Korea has denounced the warning as "American aggression".

It's thought Mrs Clinton will offer Pyongyan the choice of halting its nuclear programme in exchange for compensation, or facing sanctions.

Also on the summit's agenda is Myanmar, whose military leaders are going ahead with the trial of pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.