'No nukes for N Korea'

2003-05-15 08:17

Washington - President George W Bush and South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun warned on Wednesday they would "not tolerate" nuclear weapons in North Korea as they forged a public display of unity in their first-ever summit.

Bush moved to assuage fears of a US military response to the showdown with his "axis of evil" foe, but neither side laid out in detail how they proposed to thwart the communist state's drive for nuclear weapons.

The US side also promised to retain a "robust forward presence" on the Korean peninsula, but signalled it would try to ease the burden on the South Korean people posed by its 37 000 strong garrison.

"I assured the president we will continue to work to achieve a peaceful solution," Bush said in a symbolic joint appearance with Roh in the White House Rose Garden.

He cited "good progress" being made towards ending the crisis, despite inconclusive US talks with the Stalinist state last month also involving China.

Roh insists that military force should not be an option in the drama, but the US administration, though preferring diplomacy, says all options remain on the table. Bush says no deals can be made with Pyongyang until it renounces the nuclear drive.

In a statement, Bush and Roh tried to frustrate Pyongyang's traditional tactic of probing divisions in the US-South Korea alliance.

"President Roh and President Bush reaffirmed they would not tolerate nuclear weapons in North Korea," the statement said.

"Both leaders reiterated their strong commitment to work for the complete, verifiable and irreversible elimination of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme through peaceful means," the statement said.

But they warned that "increased threats to peace and stability" would merit "consideration of further steps".

North Korea has warned it would view any imposition of sanctions to punish its nuclear intransigence as a "declaration of war".

The statement called for the inclusion of regional powers in efforts to ease the crisis.

"The idea is to get a coalition together, speak with one voice to let the North Koreans know that there is 'only one door they can go through, and that is to give up their nukes,' said a senior US official later.

Bush, who practices a highly personal style of diplomacy, warmly praised his guest after the 30 minute summit, followed by dinner in the White House residence.

"I have found the president to be an easy man to talk to. He expresses his opinions very clearly and it's easy to understand," he said.

"There's no question in my mind we'll have the kind of personal relationship where we will consult freely to solve major problems."

Roh returned the compliment: "We have come to trust each other and have confidence in each other," he said, though noted that the talks were "very frank and candid."

Bush had a notoriously frosty relationship with Roh's predecessor Kim Dae-Jung and their unsuccessful March 2001 White House summit soured Washington-Seoul relations.

The alliance, 50 years old this year, was also tested severely last year after two South Korean schoolgirls were killed in an accident with a US armoured vehicle, prompting protests against US troops.

The episode led to some calls in Congress for the American force to be withdrawn - a suggestion firmly stamped down by the White House on Wednesday.

"President Bush reaffirmed the US commitment to a robust forward presence on the peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific region," said the final statement, but it did preview steps to ease the impact of the US force on the civilian population.

"President Bush pledged to consult closely with President Roh on the appropriate posture of (US forces in Korea) during the transition to a more capable and sustainable US military presence on the peninsula."

- AFX