Bush seeks talks with N. Korea

Bush: '"I don't believe ... President Kim Jong-il represents the will of the North Korean people'

SEOUL, South Korea -- On the eve of a visit to East Asia, U.S. President George W. Bush has reassured South Korea that the United States is seeking dialogue with North Korea despite calling the communist state part of an "axis of evil."

In an interview with a South Korean broadcaster, Bush however remained critical of North Korea, describing its people as "starving and hopeless" under its leadership.

"South Korean people must know that our nation will enter a dialogue with North Korea," Bush said, according to transcripts made available to Reuters news agency by South Korea's state-run Korean Broadcasting System (KBS).

"We have made an offer to do so, but North Korea won't accept for some reasons," the U.S. president said.

North Korea is expected to feature prominently at high-level talks when Bush visits Japan, South Korea and China on a six-day trip.

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Bush said that while in Seoul next week he would urge South Korea to "pull back guns" and ease its military pressure on the North to allow more time to improve the situation for North Korea's 23 million people.

"People starve to death in North Korea. That is very sad. It shouldn't happen in the 21st century," Bush said.

'No illusions'

Last month during his state of the nation address, Bush accused North Korea of threatening the world and, along with Iran and Iraq, forming an "axis of evil."

His comments riled South Korea, which fears the U.S. stance would undermine its rapprochement policy with the North to end five decades of hostility.

Bush was critical of North Korean leader President Kim Jong-il -- who turned 60 on Saturday – during the interview.

"I don't believe the man who runs North Korea, President Kim Jong-il, represents the will of the North Korean people," Bush said.

Bush said that the U.S. was concerned by the plight of the North Korean people and its weapons of mass destruction program.

"I am under no illusions. South Korean people are free and prosperous. North Korean people are starving and hopeless," Bush said.