Busan, South Korea ? In a show of unity, President Bush and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun declared today that a nuclear-armed North Korea “will not be tolerated” and agreed the problem should be resolved through peaceful diplomacy.

The two leaders spoke at a news conference in Gyeongju, the ancient capital of Korea. About 250 demonstrators, carrying signs that said “Stop Bush,” gathered at the train station in the city to protest the president’s visit.

Another group of protesters in the city carried signs in support of Bush, and demonstrated against North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il.

Bush expressed solidarity with Vice President Dick Cheney, who issued a blistering attack in Washington against Democratic critics who claim the White House manipulated intelligence on Iraq before the war. Cheney said the critics were spreading “one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city.”

“Ours is a country where people ought to disagree and I expect there to be criticism,” Bush said, who appeared visibly irritated. “But when Democrats say I deliberately misled the Congress and the people, that’s irresponsible.”

Bush and Roh met ahead of a 21-nation trade and economic summit whose members include the leaders of the five countries – the United States, China, South Korea, Russia and Japan – negotiating with North Korea for its nuclear disarmament.

Roh said the the next round of six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear program should be held as soon as possible to find a breakthrough. The negotiations adjourned last Friday with delegates reporting little progress. “We have no disagreements at all that this issue must be resolved,” Roh said.

“We reiterated that a nuclear-armed North Korea will not be tolerated and reaffirmed that the issue should be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic means,” Roh said through a translator.

Bush agreed. “It’s in the world’s interest that this happen,” Bush said. “It’s also in our interest that we continue to work together to solve the problem. I see a peninsula one day that is united and at peace.”

Pro-Bush South Korean protesters chant slogans during a demonstration against North Korean nuclear ambitions in Busan. U.S. President George W. Bush and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun declared today that a nuclear-armed North Korea will

Roh said the two leaders talked at length about the North Korean nuclear issue and exchanged views about North Korea’s attitude and tactics.

“We are basically looking to resolve this North Korean nuclear issue, and we are exploring more ways that we can resolve this issue,” Roh said. The two leaders endorsed a joint declaration expressing satisfaction with “the steady development” of the U.S.-South Korean alliance.

Bush’s eight-day journey to Asia offers him a reprieve from troubles at home, where his approval rating has fallen to the lowest point of his presidency. Unhappiness over the war in Iraq has hurt Bush’s popularity and credibility, and Republicans are nervous about how the war and the president’s other woes will affect next year’s midterm elections.

Roh has been a major supporter of Bush’s Iraq policy. South Korea is the third-largest contributor of troops behind the United States and Britain, deploying more than 3,000 soldiers. Like Bush, Roh’s domestic approval ratings are down, and his foes call him a lame duck.