Bush wants unity with allies on North Korea
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-11-15 09:51

US President George W. Bush will seek unity with Asian allies on how to persuade North Korea to move ahead with its agreement to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, U.S. national security adviser Stephen Hadley said on Monday.

In what appeared to be a breakthrough deal in September, North Korea said it would disarm in exchange for aid and security guarantees. It is also demanding a light-water reactor for civilian use.

But the United States said on Friday any full agreement would depend on North Korea ending its nuclear activities and accounting for nuclear stockpiles, including uranium-enrichment.

Over the next several days on a weeklong Asia trip, Bush is to meet most, if not all, the leaders of Asian nations involved in the six-party negotiations with North Korea: Japan, South Korea, China and possibly Russia.

The United States has rejected anything short of an immediate and irreversible dismantling of North Korea's nuclear programs before it will offer compensation to the reclusive state.

Hadley told reporters on Air Force One that Bush would stick to the U.S. position that North Korea would get no aid until it dismantles its nuclear program.

"We'll want to continue to have a dialogue on that issue to make sure that we continue to see that issue the same way," Hadley said.

He said Bush also wants North Korea to get specific about a process to reveal its nuclear program and dismantle it in a verifiable way.