WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush met with President of Republic of Korea Roh Moo-hyun at the White House Thursday, with the two sides focusing on the settlement of nuclear issues on the Korean peninsular and bilateral military cooperation.

U.S. President George W. Bush (R) talks as South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun listens in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Sept. 14, 2006. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    Speaking to reporters after the talks Roh, Bush said he and visiting ROK President Roh Moo-hyun had recommitted themselves to six-party talks aimed at defusing the nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsular.

    "We reaffirmed our commitment to the six-party talks so that we can peacefully deal with the nuclear issue."

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

    According to Bush, the five countries were determined to resolve the issue peacefully but recognized a threat posed by a country in the region armed with a nuclear weapon.

    Bush urged Pyongyang to abandon its atomic weapons program in return for energy and other aid as well as security guarantees.

    "The incentive is for (DPRK leader) Kim Jong-il to understand that there is a better way to improve the livelihood of his people than be isolated," he said.

    Roh said, "we are working very hard for the resumption of the six-party talks," noting "This is not the appropriate time to think about the possibility of a failure of the six-party process."

    The six-party talks have been at a year-long standstill since the DPRK boycotted it over U.S. financial restrictions aimed at Pyongyang. In last September, Pyongyang agreed in principle to give up its nuclear weapons program in exchange for aid and security and diplomatic guarantees.

    In addition to the nuclear issue, Bush and Roh also discussed Seoul's desire to retake wartime command of its troops from the United States.

    Noting that the United States is committed to the security of the Korean peninsula, Bush said "Decisions about the placement of our troops and the size of our troops will be made in consultation with the Korean government."

    "We will work in a consultative way at the appropriate level of government to come up with an appropriate date," Bush added.

    The United States now has about 30,000 troops in ROK, which has about 670,000 troops. ROK has set the target year for command transfer at 2012, while Washington wants to hand it over by 2009.

    The two countries will try to settle their difference in the Security Consultative Meeting held between their defense ministers in Washington D.C. in October.

    ROK took back the authority to control its military during peacetime in 1994 but wartime control has remained in the combined command of ROK and the United States. Enditem