Bush urges 'serious repercussions' for N. Korea

WASHINGTON, Oct 11 (Reuters) President George W. Bush today urged ''serious repercussions'' for North Korea's apparent nuclear test, but said the United States remained committed to diplomacy and had no intention of attacking.

''This claim itself constitutes a threat to international peace and stability,'' President Bush said at a news conference.

''In response to North Korea's actions we're working with our partners in the region and the United Nations Security Council to ensure there are serious repercussions for the regime in Pyongyang.'' President Bush is seeking a tough response from the U.N. Security Council in response to North Korea's announcement this week that it conducted a nuclear test which Bush said the United States was working to confirm.

The United States has no nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula and has ''no intention of attacking North Korea,'' Mr Bush said. But North Korea's actions have raised tensions in the region, he said.

President Bush thanked China, South Korea, Japan and Russia for their ''strong statements of condemnation'' of North Korea's reported nuclear test.

''The United States remains committed to diplomacy,'' Mr Bush said. ''The United States also reserves all options to defend our friends and our interests in the region against the threats from North Korea.'' Mr Bush said a U.N. Security Council resolution should specify measures to prevent North Korea from exporting nuclear or missile technologies and prevent financial transactions that would help North Korea develop nuclear missile capabilities.

Reuters SHB DB2115