Clinton rejects North Korean threat to get 'physical', pledges full support to South

New York, (ANI) - Reassuring South Korea of the US' support, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has rejected North Korea's threat to get "physical".

North Korea has warned to get physical if the US and South Korea go ahead with naval exercises this weekend.

Clinton called it "distressing when North Korea continues its threats and causes so much anxiety among its neighbors and the larger region."

The joint naval maneuvers in waters off Korea's east coast near the Demilitarized Zone will take place as planned, Clinton said, the Daily News reports.

"We will demonstrate once again through our military exercises that the US stands in firm support of the defense of South Korea," she said.

Clinton was speaking at the end of a meeting of East Asian leaders in Vietnam that was attended by a North Korean delegation.

Earlier, North Korean spokesman Ri Long said his government's "position is clear - there will be a physical response to the threat imposed by US military."

The U.S. and South Korea have planned the exercises for weeks as a show of strength after 46 sailors were killed in the sinking of the South Korean corvette Cheonan last March.