U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has vowed to work not only on North Korea's nuclear issue, but also to improve the human rights situation in the communist state.

During a news conference in Phuket, Thailand, during the ASEAN Regional Forum, Clinton said Washington’s quarrel is not with the North Korean people, but with the administration, which she said continues to deny its citizens basic human rights. She added that along with North Korea's denuclearization, the U.S. will continue to fight for the rights of ordinary North Korean citizens.

Clinton also expressed wishes to cooperate with international organizations fighting for North Korean human rights, while promising to continue financial aid for Korean-language radio programs with similar purposes.

Clinton emphasized the importance of carrying out sanctions against the North, saying she will send Philip Goldberg, the State Department's point man on coordinating implementation of sanctions, to Asia soon.

Clinton added that the North will not be compensated merely for returning to multilateral denuclearization dialogue. She said the North is obligated to do so in line with agreements already made in the past.