The New York Times
Asia Pacific

Bush Urges North Korea to Drop Missile Program

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office today, President Bush called on North Korea to abandon its missile program.
By DAVID STOUT
Published: July 5, 2006
WASHINGTON, July 5 - President Bush expressed concern for the people of North Korea today as he called on the country's leadership to abandon its missile program and end a self-imposed isolation that he said was only deepening.

The North Koreans "have isolated themselves further" by the missile tests they undertook early today, Mr. Bush said, vowing to work with allies of the United States to pressure North Korea to "verifiably abandon its weapons programs."