Washington ( CNN ) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that North Korea 's new leader , Kim Jung Un , `` has a choice to make '' -- become a `` transformative leader '' or continue the Communist nation 's existing policies , which she predicted would lead to its demise . `` He can continue the model of the past and eventually North Korea will change , because at some point people can not live under such oppressive conditions -- starving to death , being put into gulags and having their basic human rights denied , '' she said . `` We are hoping that he will chart a different course for his people . '' The 29-year-old Kim Jong Un became North Korea 's most powerful figure about six months ago , following the death of his father Kim Jong Il . He has only made two public speeches since rising to power -- the first coming at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of North Korea 's founder and his grandfather Kim Il Sung , and more recently in June in a speech to about 20,000 children . Referring to Kim Jong Un , Clinton expressed `` hope that the new leadership in Pyongyang will live up to its agreements , will not engage in threats and provocations ( and ) will put the North Korean people first . '' `` Rather than spending money on implements of war , feed your people , provide education and health care , and lift your people out of poverty and isolation , '' she advised North Korea 's new leader . The comments followed a meeting in Washington -- referred to by both sides as the `` 2-plus-2 '' talks -- involving Clinton , U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and South Korea 's foreign and defense ministers . Afterward , the United States and South Korea released a joint statement reaffirming their cooperation on security matters , an alliance they called `` a linchpin of stability , security , and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and increasingly around the world . '' That cooperation was evident in crisis management and `` intelligence sharing '' before , during and after North Korea 's failed long-range rocket launch in April , South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin said Thursday . Some expressed concerns that launch , which the U.N. Security Council condemned as a `` serious violation '' of previous council resolutions , might signal Pyongyang 's intentions to fire nuclear weapons on its foes . Foreign Minister Kim Sung Hwan promised that South Korea and the United States `` will show a decisive response '' if North Korea moves to `` provoke again . '' Yet he also opened the door for talks . `` The road to dialogue and cooperation is open should North Korea stop its provocation , '' he said . A few years after the Korean peninsula was divided after World War II , U.S. forces joined South Korea in the Korean War -- a conflict that ended in a cease-fire , but no peace treaty . North Korea 's nuclear weapons capabilities have further heightened tensions in recent years . This week 's meeting in Washington showed the strength of the partnership between two of North Korea 's staunchest foes . In addition to a continued focus on Pyongyang 's nuclear and missile programs , the two parties announced a joint defense initiative focused on `` evolving threats , such as in space , the maritime domain , and cyberspace , '' according to the joint statement . `` Working together , we can improve the security of our government , military and commercial infrastructure and better protect against cyber attacks , '' Clinton said .
NEW : ` ` Rather than spending money on implements of war , feed your people , '' Clinton says . the U.S. Secretary of State says North Korea 's Kim Jung Un ` ` will chart a different course '' The foreign and defense ministers of the U.S. and South Korea meet in Seoul . They jointly discuss their alliance , calling it a ` ` solution '' to assuring security in East Asia .