Incoming U.S. adm. to review overall N.K. policy: Colin Powell

US Secretary of State-designate Colin Powell said Wednesday that the incoming Bush administration would review North Korea policy.

In a prepared statement for the confirmation hearing at the Senate, Powell said that the Bush administration would review its relations with North Korea from a viewpoint of whether they will be helpful to sustained peace and prosperity in Korea and the neighboring regions.

However, he said the Republican administration is aware of the work done by President Clinton in talks aimed at convincing Pyongyang to scrap its program to develop long-rang ballistic missiles.

"We are open to a continued process of engagement with the North so long as it addresses political, economic and security concerns, is reciprocal and does not come at the expense of our alliance relationships," Powell said.

Powell also said that the Bush administration would take a close but careful look at U.S. military deployments in regions such as the Balkans, with hopes of reducing troop commitments.