Obama: US will act firmly against N Korea nuclear

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) _ President Barack Obama says the United States will act firmly against any nuclear proliferation activities by North Korea.

In a speech to the Australian Parliament on Thursday, Obama says the transfer of nuclear material by North Korea to others would be ``considered a grave threat to the United States and our allies.''

Obama says the U.S. would ``hold North Korea fully accountable for the consequences of such action.''

The president is outlining plans to Australian leaders for the United States to stay invested across Asia and Australia despite budget cuts back home.