US President Barack Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye agree they should maintain a strong deterrent capability as they haven’t seen any actions on the part of the North Koreans that would indicate they're prepared to move in a different direction. At a joint news conference following talks with Park on Tuesday at the White House, Obama said the US and South Korea will not reward North Korea for acts that both sides see as provocations but will still remain open to the prospect of North Korea taking a peaceful path to resolving the Korean conflict. Obama and Park said they will continue to implement the free trade agreement and boost ties in green energy and security.

US President Barack Obama greets South Korea's President Park Geun-hye after a joint news conference in the White House in Washington, May 7, 2013. (Photo: Reuters)

Park began her visit on Sunday, the first US visit since she took office in late February. Park talked with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday about the escalating tension on the Korean peninsula.