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WASHINGTON - U.S. President George Bush said on Thursday that the North Korea is expected to stop nuclear proliferation if the nation wants the six-nation talks to be successful. His comments appeared to be made in relation to alleged nuclear cooperation between North Korea and Syria.

At a press conference in the White House on September 20, Bush said that they have clearly shown, and will continue to show, their position on the matter during negotiations on the North’s denuclearization, namely that Pyongyang is expected to keep its promise to dismantle its nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons programs. Bush stressed the significance of the North’s nuclear transfer, saying that it does not matter if the North provided either nuclear-related information or materials to Syria. The concept of nuclear proliferation is as important as dismantling nuclear weapons or programs, Bush added.

When asked questions about whether or not the U.S. administration supported the Israeli attack on Syria, which took place earlier this month, and for his opinion on the degree of truth behind the suspected nuclear cooperation between North Korea and Syria, Bush refused to answer the questions four times.

Bush’s remarks indicate that he places stress not only on the North’s nuclear disablement, but also on nuclear proliferation, and that he will take issue with this matter at the next round of six-party talks, which are to be held on September 27.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the chief nuclear negotiator, said on September 14 that proliferation of nuclear materials, facilities and programs is a very significant part of the six-party talks. The problem of nuclear proliferation has already been discussed within the framework of the six-party talks and all the information related the North’s nuclear proliferation should be reported to the other five nations according to the February 13 agreement, added Hill.

The Nelson Report, a U.S. daily briefing service on international issues, quoted sources on September 20 as saying that it is highly possible that the Israeli air force aimed missiles at Syria, or missiles containing parts that were produced in North Korea or Russia, not the related nuclear weapons.