Bush urges tough response on North Korea

WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) U S President George W Bush urged world powers today to pass tough sanctions on North Korea, saying Pyongyang must face ''real consequences'' for the nuclear weapons test it says it conducted.

''With its actions this week, the North Korean regime has once again broken its word, provoked an international crisis, and denied its people the opportunity for a better life,'' Mr Bush said in his weekly radio address.

''Nations around the world, including our partners in the six-party talks, agree on the need for a strong United Nations Security Council resolution that will require North Korea to dismantle its nuclear programs,'' he said.

Mr Bush spoke as the UN Security Council was considering a possible vote on a resolution imposing arms and financial sanctions on North Korea.

China and Russia want to soften some provisions in a draft supported by the United States, but US officials have said they believe the differences can be worked out to allow a vote on Saturday.

''We will support our allies in the region, we will work with the United Nations, and together we will ensure that North Korea faces real consequences if it continues down its current path,'' Mr Bush said.

Five days after North Korea announced the nuclear test, a US official said yesterday that a preliminary intelligence analysis showed radioactivity in air samples collected near the suspected test site.

Bush said the UN resolution should include steps to prevent North Korea from importing or exporting nuclear or missile technology, and should block financial transactions that might help it develop nuclear or ballistic missile programmes.

The US-sponsored draft resolution would also prohibit sales of luxury goods to North Korea.

Bush reiterated that he wanted to use diplomatic means to solve the North Korean crisis. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to travel to China, Japan and South Korea next week.

The president said he wanted to assure Asian allies, including Japan and South Korea, ''that America remains committed to their security'' and would step up cooperation on missile defense in response to the nuclear test.

Bush's policies toward North Korea have been criticized by some Democrats who say the administration should try dealing directly with Pyongyang. The Bush administration wants to negotiate through the six-party talks involving the United States, China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and North Korea.

Pyongyang has boycotted the six-party talks for nearly a year.

Pressed on whether he thought sanctions would work, White House spokesman Tony Snow yesterday compared North Korea to a ''bratty child,'' saying it should not be rewarded for bad behavior.

REUTERS BDP MIR BST1952