Two Koreas' naval clash won't deter U.S. visit: Clinton

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - This week's naval clash between North and South Korea will not affect the decision to send a U.S. special envoy to North Korea, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday.

"This does not in any way affect the decision to send ambassador Bosworth. We think that this is an important step that stands on its own," Clinton told a news conference on the sidelines of an APEC meeting in Singapore.

The rival Koreas on Tuesday exchanged gunfire for the first time in seven years, damaging vessels on both sides and raising tension just before U.S. President Obama travels to Asia.

(Reporting by David Alexander, writing by Bill Tarrant; Editing by Neil Chatterjee)