U.S. assures that it does not plan military action against the North

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials gave assurances Wednesday that no imminent military action is planned against North Korea despite U.S. President George W. Bush's warning that the North is a constituent of an "axis of evil." Washington continues to offer unconditional dialogue with Pyeongyang, the officials emphasized, but the threats posed by its development of weapons of mass destruction must be discussed when talks resume.

At a White House press briefing, Ari Fleischer, the press secretary, denied that Mr. Bush had suggested impending military action against rogue states including North Korea. Mr. Bush "will be deliberative," Mr. Fleischer said.

The White House national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, met with South Korea's Foreign Minister Han Seung-soo, and explained that Mr. Bush's stern words about the North were an expression of heightened concern about weapons of mass destruction since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "Ms. Rice confirmed that the Bush administration's North Korea policy remains unchanged," Mr. Han said.

The U.S. State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, said Wednesday, "There are serious issues to discuss with North Korea," and "We are ready to sit down and discuss those issues at any time, any place." Mr. Boucher noted U.S. support for Seoul's effort to engage North Korea.

James Kelly, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said in a meeting with Yim Sung-joon, the senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs and national security, that Washington expects to resume serious talks with Pyeongyang.

Thomas Hubbard, U.S. ambassador to South Korea, also said the United States wants to talk with Pyeongyang. At a unification forum hosted by the Young Korean Academy on Thursday in Seoul, Mr. Hubbard said issues about North Korea's development and export of weapons of mass destruction, missiles in particular, will be on the agenda of the U.S.-South Korea summit scheduled this month.

North Korea blasted Mr. Bush on Thursday. The Korean Central News Agency said Mr. Bush's "axis of evil" formulation was mere deceit. "By accusing the North as a threat, Mr. Bush aimed at justifying the stationing of U.S. forces in the South and supporting its hostile policy against the North," KCNA said.

by Kim Jin