SEOUL, South Korea -- LeBron James is on a mission to put USA Basketball back on top of the world.

In a game that was decided in the first 10 minutes, James scored 23 points Tuesday to lead the United States to an emphatic 116-63 win over South Korea in a tuneup game for the world championships.

The Americans took control early, led by James.

The Cleveland Cavaliers star hit a 3-pointer two minutes in, and then gave the United States an early 9-2 lead with an easy layup.

Late in the first period, James' two-handed slam dunk made it 13-5 and the Americans finished the first quarter with a comfortable 22-13 lead.

With the win, the Americans improved to 5-0 in exhibition games leading up to the worlds which begin later this week in Japan.

Dwyane Wade gave the U.S. a 20-point lead midway through the second period when he broke through the Korean defense and finished with a two-handed jam.

James, who had 19 points in the first half, stole the ball at center court and went in all alone for a slam dunk with 3:49 left in the second period as the U.S. widened its lead to 62-35 at the break.

Despite the one-sided score, there was no letting up for James.

In the third period, Wade made an alley-oop lob to James who saluted the crowd after yet another dunk made it 73-38. The United States took an 86-52 lead into the final period when coach Mike Krzyzewski took the 6-foot-8 forward out.

When introduced, the U.S. players got a huge ovation from the South Korean fans. Tuesday was a national holiday to mark the 61st anniversary of the end of Japanese colonial rule on the Korean Peninsula.

Carmelo Anthony, Shane Battier, Elton Brand, Kirk Hinrich and Wade started for the U.S. team.

After a visit to a U.S. military base Wednesday, the team will head to Sapporo, Japan, for its opening game of the championships on Aug. 19 against Puerto Rico.

The United States finished sixth at the worlds in 2002 and third in 1998. The last time the Americans won the tournament was 1994.

The U.S. still must cut one of its players before the world championships. The roster was reduced to 13 when Gilbert Arenas strained his groin during practice Monday and was unable to compete for a spot on the 12-player roster.