George W. Bush hopes North Korea issue will be settled peacefully with Russia, Japan, South Korea and China assisting

U.S. President George W. Bush told journalists at a press conference Thursday in his rancho in Texas where he spent the Christmas holidays that he hoped that the North Korea issue would be settled peacefully as North Korea'a decision to resume its nuclear program is a diplomatic rather than military one.

According to the US President, his administration is working hard in cooperation with its friends and allies trying to explain to North Korea that creation and proliferation of mass destruction weapons does not meet its national interests.

We are in constant contact with Japan, South Korea, China and Russia on the matter, the U.S. President stressed.