We won't in invade North Korea says Bush
President George Bush says the United States has no intention of invading North Korea.
But he ruled out signing a non-aggression treaty to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons programmes.
Bush said he would talk with Asian leaders about how to defuse tensions in the region.
"We think there's an opportunity to move the process forward and we're going to discuss it with our partners," Bush said. "We will not have a treaty, if that's what you're asking. That's off the table."
Bush said there were other ways, however, to convince North Korea that the United States would not attack.
The president was speaking in Bangkok as Asian leaders gathered in for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum, which was to include economic talks and discussions on the war on terrorism.
North Korea's nuclear ambitions and its stand-off with the United States promised to be a major topic.
Meeting Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Bush discussed his approach to North Korea.
"We have no intention of invading North Korea. We expect North Korea to get rid of her nuclear weapons ambitions."
Bush said his goal is for a nuclear-free Korean peninsula, and that he would talk with Asian leaders about how to achieve that.
