U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the world has a duty to respond to sinking of a South Korean warship that has been blamed on North Korea.

After talks with South Korean leaders Wednesday, Clinton told reporters the attack, which killed 46 sailors, was an "unacceptable provocation" by the North and the "international community has a responsibility and a duty to respond."

Clinton is spending just a few hours in Seoul discussing possible international responses to the crisis. The North denies it was responsible and has threatened to retaliate if action is taken against it.

Clinton touched down in the South Korean capital Wednesday after intense discussions on the deteriorating situation with Chinese officials in Beijing.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) _ U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has arrived in Seoul for crisis talks with South Korean leaders as tensions between North and South Korea have soared to their highest point in a decade.

Amid fears of conflict, Clinton touched down in the South Korean capital on Wednesday local time after intense discussions on the deteriorating situation with Chinese officials in Beijing.

Clinton will spend just a few hours in Seoul discussing possible international responses to the crisis that started last week when investigators blamed North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean warship. The North denies it was responsible and has threatened to retaliate if action is taken against it.