Washington: In a blunt message to North Korea, US and Japan have demanded a "complete, verifiable and irreversible elimination" of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme, advancing efforts to forge a united front on the issue.

"We will not tolerate nuclear weapons in North Korea. We will not settle for anything less than the complete, verifiable and irreversible elimination of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme," US President George W Bush told reporters in a joint appearance with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on May 23.

"The Prime Minister and I see the problem exactly the same way," Bush said after their talks at his Texas ranch.

Terming North Korea's nuclear weapons as a "grave challenge to the entire world", Koizumi said, "We will not at all tolerate the possession, development or transfer of nuclear weapons by North Korea."

He said North Korea must "promptly and completely dismantle all nuclear weapons development programmes in a verifiable manner".

Pointing out that China had already called on North Korea to renounce nuclear weapons during talks held in Beijing last month, Bush said both he and Koizumi agreed that these talks must be broadened to include Japan and South Korea, and more countries later.

"We are confident that our diplomatic approach will bring a peaceful solution," Bush said adding, "Yet we (US and Japan) agreed that further escalation of the situation by North Korea will require tougher measures from the international community."

PTI