U.S. President George W. Bush met with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun at the White House Thursday, with the two sides vowing to persuade the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to return to stalled six-party talks.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Bush said that the United States is committed to security in the Korean peninsular. He pledged to resolve the DPRK's nuclear dispute peacefully.

Bush said Pyongyang's refusal to return to six-party talks "has really strengthened the alliance" of the United States, South Korea, China, Japan and Russia trying to convince the DPRK to abandon its nuclear program.

They were "determined to resolve this issue peacefully" but recognize a threat posed by a country in the region armed with a nuclear weapon, Bush said.

Source: Xinhua