Washington: The White House has contradicted a US media report that said the United States and its Asian allies have begun to accept the idea of a nuclear-armed North Korea.

"No. The position of the United States, along with our allies in the region, is just the opposite, that it's important to make certain that there is a de-nuclearised Peninsula... That's why we have called directly and publicly for North Korea to dismantle its nuclear programmes," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said on March 5.

A report published in 'Washington Post' suggested that the US, South Korea and Japan feel that they might not be able to force Pyongyang to halt its nuclear arms programme, and so their focus could now change to preventing North Korea from proliferating nuclear technology.

Asked if North Korean move to begin reprocessing of fuel at a restarted nuclear reactor constitute a red line to the US, Fleischer said, "I am not in a position to discuss what is a red line. (But) what is important is that they dismantle the programme, that they not engage in further provocative and reckless actions."

Fleischer said China and Russia have much at stake in relation to North Korea's behaviour.

A nuclear-armed North Korea was not in Beijing's and Moscow's interests, and the more help that was brought to the matter by the two countries, the stronger the diplomacy would be to convince Pyongyang to give up its nuclear arms programme, he said.

"The region as a whole is concerned as a result of what North Korea has done."

PTI