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.
“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.
The president sought to turn criticism of his Iraq approach to his advantage. When he was asked for his reaction to suggestions from Senator John W. Warner, Republican of Virginia, and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III that some changes may be needed, Mr. Bush said that, in fact, changes are in the works all the time — in tactics, if not in the overall goal.
Mr. Bush said his commanders in Iraq do not hesitate to tell him what they need and what changes they would like to see. As for his critics, Mr. Bush said, “I don’t hear those people saying get out before the job is done.” (At a Pentagon briefing, Gen. George Casey, the top American commander in Iraq, said the situation in Iraq was “difficult and complex” and would probably remain so “for some time.” But he said the Iraqis, with the help of the United States, “continue to move forward.”)
Mr. Bush dismissed as not credible a new report by American and Iraqi health officials that 655,000 Iraqis had died since the Iraq war, many times the death toll estimated by the Bush administration. “I do know that a lot of innocent people have died, and that troubles me and it grieves me,” he said.
As he has many times, Mr. Bush said the war in Iraq is part of a worldwide struggle against terrorism. Those who do not realize that are ignoring what the terrorists themselves have declared, Mr. Bush said. And if the United States should leave Iraq before that young democracy is on its feet, “the enemy will follow us here,” he said.
Democrats who disagree with him are not unpatriotic, Mr. Bush said: “We just have a different view of the world.”
The Senate Democratic leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, quickly denounced Mr. Bush’s comments. “President Bush and his Republican Congress are in a state of denial about their own failed policies,” he said. “The president’s policy in Iraq sent that country into a civil war and turned it into a training ground and rallying cry for terrorists. His policy in North Korea allowed that country to develop and test nuclear weapons.”
Mr. Bush was asked just one question about the scandal involving former Representative Mark Foley and his interest in Congressional pages. 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. “All of us want to find out the facts,” Mr. Bush said.
