Bush says one international voice needed on North Korea

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President George W. Bush said on
Thursday it was important for nations to speak with one voice
on North Korea in the face of its missile test launches and he
emphasized the need for a diplomatic outcome.

After speaking in the last two days to the leaders of
China, Russia, Japan and South Korea, Bush said his message was
that “we want to solve this problem diplomatically” and that
all must work together to “send one message” that North Korea
must adhere to international norms.

At a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper, Bush expressed annoyance at the way North
Korean leader Kim Jong-il conducted seven missile launches
earlier this week without explaining his intentions.

“It would have been helpful of course if, you know, he said
‘here’s what we’re going to do, here’s our intentions, we want
to work with you, we want to explain … But that’s not the way
he decided to deal with it. He just decided to start firing,
and he fired seven of them, and we take this seriously,” Bush
said.