North korean leader Kim Jong-il. (Creative Commons)

President Barack Obama lauded America's alliance with South Korea as being stronger than ever and threatened North Korea with isolation if the nation continued its nuclear weapons program in a Veteran's Day speech in Seoul.

Using the same rhetorical conventions he relied on during speeches ahead of the midterm elections, Obama divided North and South Korea, saying, "The Korean peninsula provides the world’s clearest contrast between a society that is open and a society that is closed; between a nation that is dynamic and growing, and a government that would rather starve its people than change. It’s a contrast so stark you can see it from space, as the brilliant lights of Seoul give way to the utter darkness in the north."

The New York Times puts the speech in a broader prespective of his appearance at the G20 summitt.

Politico offers more excerpts from the speech.

The president also paid tribute to veterans of the Korean War, which began 60 years ago.

Reach executive producer Paresh Dave here. Follow him on Twitter: @peard33.