Obama salutes US troops and condemns North Korea

Barack Obama saluted the bravery of US troops who defended South Korea during its war with North Korea and condemned the communist North for continuing on a course that he said deepened its isolation and the poverty of its people.

Speaking at an army garrison in South Korea, where the US keeps a presence of more than 28,000 troops, the president said North Korea knew the path to prosperity and suggested its leaders take it.