US to Press N. Korea on Nukes: Bush

President Bush challenged rumors today that Washington will go easy on North Korea's nuclear program, the AP reports. Pyongyang must "provide a full declaration of its nuclear programs" and disable its reactor, Bush said at US talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. "Some people are precluding, you know, jumping ahead of the game," Bush said.

But Washington sparked rumors this week by hinting it may reduce sanctions on North Korea without seeing cuts in its nuclear program. Critics slammed the notion, saying Bush was conceding too much to cut a quick deal, AFP reports. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak also warned that a soft deal with Pyongyang would create "a lot more serious problems" down the road. (More North Korea stories.)