US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in South Korea to discuss tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Clinton met South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan. They discussed the recent friction between Seoul and Pyongyang.

Clinton and Yu held a joint news conference. On Tuesday in Beijing, Clinton said the US will work with China to come up with an effective and appropriate response to the sinking of South Korea's Cheonan naval vessel.

She has also made it clear that the US is working to stop inter-Korean relations from further deteriorating.

Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, said, "North Korea's future depends on the choices that its leaders make today. For our part, we remain resolute in our defence of South Korea on yielding in our pursuit of justice and determined to achieve security and stability across the Asia-Pacific region. The alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea will continue to be a cornerstone of peace and prosperity for both our nations."