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Bush raises North Korea concerns Bush 'concern' at N Korea issues
(30 minutes later)
US President George W Bush has said America remains concerned about North Korea's uranium enrichment activities, which the North has denied. US President George W Bush has said he remains concerned about North Korea's alleged enrichment of uranium and other security issues.
But, speaking after talks with Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda ahead of Monday's G8 summit in Japan, he acknowledged North Korea had addressed some concerns.But, speaking after talks with Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda ahead of Monday's G8 summit in Japan, he acknowledged North Korea had addressed some concerns.
Mr Fukuda said he would attend the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, which other leaders have vowed to miss. The G8 summit is being held at a resort on the northern island of Hokkaido. Mr Fukuda said he would attend the Beijing Olympics opening, which other leaders will miss over rights concerns.
North Korea handed over a long-delayed list of its nuclear activities to Washington on 26 June. The G8 summit is being held at a resort on the northern island of Hokkaido.
But Tokyo is worried that plans by the US to remove North Korea from its list of states sponsoring terrorism will undermine attempts to free some of its citizens, allegedly abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 80s. North Korea handed over a long-delayed list of its nuclear activities to Washington on 26 June, but it is not thought to have given details of uranium enrichment, which the North denies.
Mr Bush promised Mr Fukuda that he would "not abandon" the question of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7489993.stm">G8 summit: the key issues class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7491215.stm">In Pictures: G8 protests class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/3777557.stm">Profile: G8
Asked by reporters about the ailing US economy, the American leader said he was committed to a strong dollar. "North Korea did provide a declaration of its plutonium-related activities and did blow up the cooling tower of its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon," Mr Bush said at the summit venue in Tokayo.
"Our economy is not growing as robustly as we'd like..." he said. "That's been verified and is a positive step, but there are more steps to be taken.
"The United States believes in a strong dollar policy and believes the strength of our economy will be reflected in the dollar." "We are concerned about enriched uranium and proliferation, human rights abuses and ballistic missile programmes."
Speaking at their joint news conference, Mr Fukuda officially announced he would attend the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing in August. Mr Bush also promised Mr Fukuda that he would "not abandon" the question of Japanese citizens allegedly abducted by North Korea to help train North Korean spies.
The Group of Eight (G8) consists of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.The Group of Eight (G8) consists of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.
Leaders began arriving on Sunday. Mr Bush arrived in time to celebrate his 62nd birthday in Japan.Leaders began arriving on Sunday. Mr Bush arrived in time to celebrate his 62nd birthday in Japan.
China, India and South Africa will be among other key nations attending.China, India and South Africa will be among other key nations attending.
Braced for protests Asked by reporters about the ailing US economy, the American leader said he was committed to a strong dollar.
"Our economy is not growing as robustly as we'd like..." he said.
"The United States believes in a strong dollar policy and believes the strength of our economy will be reflected in the dollar."
Boycott 'affront'
Speaking at a joint news conference with Mr Bush, Mr Fukuda officially announced he would attend the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing in August.
Some world leaders are missing the 8 August opening ceremony amid international concern over China's human rights record.
Germany's Angela Merkel is not attending and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be in Beijing for the closing ceremony only.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says his attendance depends on progress in dialogue between Beijing and the Tibetan government-in-exile.
President Bush said on Sunday that skipping the event would be an "affront" to the Chinese people.
Japan has spent a record sum of money and deployed about 20,000 police to seal off the summit at the remote lakeside resort of Toyako.Japan has spent a record sum of money and deployed about 20,000 police to seal off the summit at the remote lakeside resort of Toyako.
G8 summit: the key issuesIn Pictures: G8 protestsProfile: G8
Several thousand demonstrators marched through Sapporo, the city closest to the venue, on Saturday, demanding that G8 leaders take action on global warming, poverty and rising food prices.Several thousand demonstrators marched through Sapporo, the city closest to the venue, on Saturday, demanding that G8 leaders take action on global warming, poverty and rising food prices.
Four people were arrested in minor scuffles with police.Four people were arrested in minor scuffles with police.
Violent anti-globalisation marches have marred past G8 meetings.Violent anti-globalisation marches have marred past G8 meetings.
Last year, Japanese officials said this summit would be about climate change and reaching agreement on a post-Kyoto Accord framework to cut greenhouse gas emissions, says the BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo.Last year, Japanese officials said this summit would be about climate change and reaching agreement on a post-Kyoto Accord framework to cut greenhouse gas emissions, says the BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo.
Mr Fukuda had said he would like to get agreement on 50% overall reductions in greenhouse gases by 2050.Mr Fukuda had said he would like to get agreement on 50% overall reductions in greenhouse gases by 2050.
But the rising food and oil prices and their effect on the global economy and the world's poorest nations have moved up the agenda.But the rising food and oil prices and their effect on the global economy and the world's poorest nations have moved up the agenda.
Mugabe talksMugabe talks
South African President Thabo Mbeki will attend the summit, fresh from crisis discussions in Zimbabwe on Saturday with President Robert Mugabe about last month's disputed election.South African President Thabo Mbeki will attend the summit, fresh from crisis discussions in Zimbabwe on Saturday with President Robert Mugabe about last month's disputed election.
HAVE YOUR SAY Condemning Mugabe might make leaders feel better about themselves but the most pressing issues right now are food and fuel K, United StatesSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Condemning Mugabe might make leaders feel better about themselves but the most pressing issues right now are food and fuel K, United StatesSend us your comments
He has been the chief regional negotiator on the Zimbabwe crisis, and has been trying to persuade Mr Mugabe to form a government of national unity. He has been the chief regional negotiator on the Zimbabwe crisis, and has been trying to persuade Mr Mugabe to form a government of national unity. The main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, pulled out of last month's second round presidential election vote, citing campaign violence.
The main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, pulled out of last month's second round presidential election vote, citing campaign violence.
On the way to Japan, a White House official said that the G8 would "strongly condemn what Mugabe has done".On the way to Japan, a White House official said that the G8 would "strongly condemn what Mugabe has done".
A small group of African states has joined the European Union, the US and other Western nations in criticising the way the election was run.A small group of African states has joined the European Union, the US and other Western nations in criticising the way the election was run.