Palin's new goof-up makes NKorea 'an ally'

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Sarah Palin has told radio listeners in the US that Americans should stand by their "North Korean allies".

The former Alaska governor and potential presidential candidate was asked about the conflict between North and South Korea.

"Obviously, we've got to stand with our North Korean allies," she said yesterday.

Her interviewer pointed out that in fact, it's South Korea, not Kim Jong-il's North Korea, that is the US's ally.

The radio gaffe came as President Barack Obama said he respected Ms Palin's political skills but had not thought about the possibility of facing the former Republican vice presidential candidate in the 2012 presidential election.

Mr Obama acknowledged that Ms Palin "has a strong base of support in the Republican Party,'' but he says he spends most of his time focused on being "the best possible president".

In an interview with the US ABC's Barbara Walters, the president says that if he does a good job, "the politics will take care of itself".

Ms Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, told Walters last week that she is considering a presidential run. When asked if she thought she could defeat President Obama, she replied, "I believe so".

Republican presidential candidate John McCain stunned the political world in 2008 by choosing Ms Palin, a little-known governor, to run with him against Mr Obama, the Democratic candidate.

Ms Palin is no stranger to controversy and verbal confusion.

In a tweet addressing the Ground Zero mosque controversy earlier this, Ms Palin coined the term 'refudiate'.

And during her 2008 vice-presidential campaign her emphasis on Alaska's proximity to Russia led to an infamous parody by comedian Tina Fey.