Bush, Democrats Differ on North Korea Approach

President Bush says it is essential that the United States and its partners speak with one voice on North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

In a news conference at the White House late Thursday, Mr. Bush said diplomatic action by consensus is the best approach. The president said he is concerned about Pyongyang's capacity to deliver a nuclear weapon.

His news conference came just hours after the head of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, Navy Vice Admiral Lowell Jacoby, told a Senate committee that he believes North Korea has the ability to arm a missile with a nuclear device, with a range that could hit the United States.

Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton of New York called the testimony "troubling beyond words", and joined with Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan in calling on the Bush administration to begin direct talks with North Korea.

Some information for this report provided by AP, Reuters.