"We are obviously hoping that the situation does not escalate and we are encouraged by the calm reaction that has been present up until now," Clinton told reporters at Asia-Pacific talks here.

"But this does not in any way affect our decision to send Ambassador (Stephen) Bosworth. We think that is an important step that stands on its own," she said, renewing US demands for North Korea to end its nuclear drive.

"It is connected to our efforts along with our six-party partners to move towards a resumption of the six-party process. We think that is critically important," Clinton said, referring to international nuclear negotiations.

"So we are certainly counselling calm and caution when it comes to any kind of dispute, especially one that can cause repercussions and damage that could be quite difficult to contend with," she said.

"But at the same time we are moving ahead with our planned visit."

South Korea Wednesday sent two more warships to guard its disputed Yellow Sea border with North Korea, military sources said, a day after a North Korean patrol boat was set ablaze in an exchange of fire.

The clash near the disputed maritime border raised tensions just over a week before US President Barack Obama arrives in Seoul as part of an Asian tour.

But Washington said it was accepting an invitation from Pyongyang to send Bosworth, its main negotiator on the North Korea nuclear issue, to try to bring the communist state back to disarmament talks.

Clinton said the envoy "will visit Pyongyang in the near future". The State Department said Bosworth would go at an appropriate time, probably before the end of the year.

"This is not a negotiation. It is an effort to pave the way for North Korea's return to the six-party process," Clinton said.

Cross-border tensions have been high for more than a year and the North has also angered the international community with missile test-launches and a second atomic weapons test. The United Nations tightened sanctions in response.

After abandoning the six-nation talks in April, the North says it is ready to rejoin the dialogue if its discussions with the United States go well.

Washington stresses that the bilateral talks are intended only to bring Pyongyang back to the six-party forum, which also includes South Korea, Japan, China and Russia.

The US goal "has not changed and will not change", Clinton said, calling for the full and verifiable dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear facilities.

She was speaking at annual meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Singapore, leading up to a summit this weekend of regional leaders including Obama.

The leaders of China, Japan, Russia and South Korea will also attend the APEC summit.

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