Bush writes letter to N. Korea's Kim

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush sent a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, urging him to honor his commitment to shut down the country's nuclear programs.

Characterizing the letter as "a reminder," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Thursday the letter reiterated North Korea's commitment to provide a complete, accurate declaration of its nuclear programs by the end of December.

Bush also sent a similar letter to other members of the six-party talks on dismantling of North Korea's nuclear weaponry.

The letters were sent Saturday and one was hand-delivered to Kim by a U.S. envoy.

"It reiterates, from the highest level in our government, our commitment to the six-party talks, our commitment to denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula," State Department spokesman Dan Casey said.

The letter also indicates the United States takes seriously "the need for a clear, full and complete declaration from the North Koreans," Casey said.

North Korea had agreed to a Dec. 31 deadline to disable a key nuclear facility that produced materials for nuclear weapons. In exchange, North Korean funds frozen by countries involved in the talks would be released. The nations also agreed to provide emergency energy assistance to North Korea.