The new U.S. government has vowed to eliminate North Korea’s nuclear programs through tough and direct diplomacy.

The White House said through its Web site Wednesday that the U.S. will "use tough diplomacy, backed by real incentives and real pressures, to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to eliminate fully and verifiably North Korea's nuclear weapons program.”

The White House also said that the new administration will crack down on nuclear proliferation by strengthening the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty so that countries like North Korea and Iran that allegedly break the rules will automatically face strong international sanctions.