U.S. President George W. Bush said Thursday that convincing North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions is a steady and slow process, implying that Washington will continuously work to seek a diplomatic solution to Pyongyang's nuclear standoff.

Bush told executives of more than 1,500 Associated Press-member newspapers at the cooperative's annual meeting that it is a steady, slow process to convince Kim Jong-il that his interests are not served by the development of nuclear weapons.

Bush also said the role played by China is crucial in the effort to get the reclusive North Korean leader to agree to dismantle his nation's nuclear facilities.