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Published: October 11, 2006
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 — President Bush today reaffirmed his faith in tough, multinational diplomacy to deal with North Korea and declared that the United States had no intention whatever of invading that country.
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Doug Mills/ The New York Times
President Bush answering questions today during a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House.
“I believe the commander in chief must try all diplomatic measures,” Mr. Bush said at an hour-long news conference, during which he also offered a vigorous defense of his administration’s handling of Iraq.
The president said in response to a question that his statement of May 23, 2003 — “We will not tolerate a nuclear North Korea” — still stands. But he said repeatedly that that goal could be realized through diplomacy.
Speaking just after North Korea lashed out at the United States for condemning its announcement that it had tested a nuclear device, Mr. Bush sent several messages in one to the isolated dictatorship in Pyongyang: that its truculence only damages its standing; that Washington’s commitment to peace and diplomacy must not be interpreted as weakness, and that North Korea would be better off backing away from its nuclear ambitions.
“The goal is, no nuclear weapons,” Mr. Bush said.
He insisted again that the United States would not engage in one-on-one talks with North Korea, except within the framework of the six-party talks involving the United States, China, Russia, Japan and the two Koreas.
“Diplomacy is a difficult process,” Mr. Bush said, acknowledging that the countries allied with Washington in the on-and-off negotiations may have different interests even though they share the goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.
Mr. Bush said that the United States “reserves all options” to defend its interests and its friends in the region, and that it will increase military cooperation with its allies in light of the latest expression of defiance from North Korea. He said, too, that Pyongyang should feel “serious repercussions” from the United Nations and the world community in general.
And yet Mr. Bush said over and over, sometimes without prompting, that North Korea could be dealt with through diplomacy. When asked what military options were available to the United States “once diplomacy has run its course,” he replied: “Diplomacy hasn’t run its course. That’s what I’m trying to tell you.”
Responding to questions, Mr. Bush also defended his Iraq policy in the face of renewed criticism, asserted that his administration’s “pro-growth economic policies” were working, and predicted that the overriding issues in the Congressional elections would be the economy and national security — and that Republicans would ride them to victory.
Mr. Bush said that he retained faith in House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, and that he disagreed with any suggestions that Mr. Hastert might have lost effectiveness because of the scandal involving former Representative Mark Foley and his interest in Congressional pages.
“All of us want to find out the facts,” Mr. Bush said.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 — President Bush today reaffirmed his faith in tough, multinational diplomacy to deal with North Korea and declared that the United States had no intention whatever of invading that country.
Skip to next paragraph
Doug Mills/ The New York Times
President Bush answering questions today during a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House.
“I believe the commander in chief must try all diplomatic measures,” Mr. Bush said at an hour-long news conference, during which he also offered a vigorous defense of his administration’s handling of Iraq.
The president said in response to a question that his statement of May 23, 2003 — “We will not tolerate a nuclear North Korea” — still stands. But he said repeatedly that that goal could be realized through diplomacy.
Speaking just after North Korea lashed out at the United States for condemning its announcement that it had tested a nuclear device, Mr. Bush sent several messages in one to the isolated dictatorship in Pyongyang: that its truculence only damages its standing; that Washington’s commitment to peace and diplomacy must not be interpreted as weakness, and that North Korea would be better off backing away from its nuclear ambitions.
“The goal is, no nuclear weapons,” Mr. Bush said.
He insisted again that the United States would not engage in one-on-one talks with North Korea, except within the framework of the six-party talks involving the United States, China, Russia, Japan and the two Koreas.
“Diplomacy is a difficult process,” Mr. Bush said, acknowledging that the countries allied with Washington in the on-and-off negotiations may have different interests even though they share the goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.
Mr. Bush said that the United States “reserves all options” to defend its interests and its friends in the region, and that it will increase military cooperation with its allies in light of the latest expression of defiance from North Korea. He said, too, that Pyongyang should feel “serious repercussions” from the United Nations and the world community in general.
And yet Mr. Bush said over and over, sometimes without prompting, that North Korea could be dealt with through diplomacy. When asked what military options were available to the United States “once diplomacy has run its course,” he replied: “Diplomacy hasn’t run its course. That’s what I’m trying to tell you.”
Responding to questions, Mr. Bush also defended his Iraq policy in the face of renewed criticism, asserted that his administration’s “pro-growth economic policies” were working, and predicted that the overriding issues in the Congressional elections would be the economy and national security — and that Republicans would ride them to victory.
Mr. Bush said that he retained faith in House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, and that he disagreed with any suggestions that Mr. Hastert might have lost effectiveness because of the scandal involving former Representative Mark Foley and his interest in Congressional pages.
“All of us want to find out the facts,” Mr. Bush said.