Image caption Sarah Palin is deciding whether to run for president in 2012

Former Alaskan governor and potential 2012 presidential contender Sarah Palin has made a gaffe on a radio show by saying North Korea is a US ally.

Answering questions from host Glenn Beck she said, "Obviously, we've got to stand with our North Korean allies."

Corrected by Mr Beck, she replied: "Yeah. And we're also bound by prudence to stand with our South Korean allies, yes."

Ms Palin says she is deciding whether to run for president in 2012.

Her slip of the tongue over North Korea will provide more ammunition for critics who say she doesn't have sufficient knowledge or experience for high office.

Former First Lady Barbara Bush recently said that Ms Palin should "stay in Alaska" rather than run for president.

The conservative US website The Weekly Standard came to Ms Palin's defence, pointing out that "she correctly identified North Korea as our enemy literally eight seconds before the mix-up".