Phuket, Thailand, July 11, SPA -- U.S. Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice said Monday the United States is steppingup cooperation to fight terrorism in Southeast Asia,warning that terror attacks remain a major threat acrossthe region. "The threat of extremism is a threat that is worldwideand has had its manifestation in Southeast Asia," shesaid, citing nightclub bombings in Bali, Indonesia, in 2002that killed 202 people. "This is a region that does have aproblem." "With our regional partners, we're intensifyingcounter terrorism cooperation, we're intensifyingintelligence cooperation, we're intensifying lawenforcement cooperation," Rice said, without elaborating. She added: "We've had training and tactical assistance onsome of these matters with Thailand and we intend tocontinue that." The further strengthening of the United States'relationship with Thailand in providing humanitarianassistance after the Dec. 26 tsunami has also helpedbolster cooperation in dealing with terrorists, she said. Rice arrived on the resort island of Phuket late Sundayafter talks in Beijing with Chinese leaders in afour-nation tour through Asia focused primarily on how toget North Korea to give up nuclear weapons development. In a major breakthrough, Pyongyang said Saturday it wouldabandon a yearlong boycott and resume disarmament talksthis month. Rice spoke to reporters after meeting with Thailand'sPrime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Foreign MinisterKantathi Suphamongkhon at the start of a one-day visit toreview the country's efforts to rebuild coastal areasbattered by the tsunami.--SPA1101 Local Time 0801 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/276013