U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is urging North Korea and Burma to follow the example of Vietnam in joining the international community and opening their economies to the rest of the world.
Speaking in Hanoi today at a forum on the sidelines of the APEC summit, Rice praised Vietnam for its success in reforming its economy and overcoming the past in seeking good relations with the United States.
She said that if the leaders of North Korea and Burma were to follow the example of Vietnam, it will open a new path of peace and opportunity.
International rights groups and governments throughout the world have criticized North Korea and Burma on a number of issues, ranging from human rights abuses, Pyongyang's nuclear program, and Burma's failure on democracy reform.
Information for this report is provided by AFP and AP.
