U.S. President George W. Bush says the establishment of the six-way nuclear framework is a diplomatic success for his administration. He said the structure of the framework enabled the five parties, excluding North Korea, to raise one voice on the proliferation issue.

Bush made the comments at a news conference aboard Air Force One en route to Afghanistan Sunday after visiting Iraq.

He said his top priority before completing his term in office will be to establish a firm and patient six-way structure that will enable the next president, or the one after that, to be able to solve the nuclear problem diplomatically.

Bush said that in the past, North Korea had usually been approached by members of the international community trying to prompt the North into action-for-action concessions. He said that the situation has since been reversed, suggesting the North must act first if it hopes to receive any form of aid.

He said that the North has tested, and will continue to test, concerned parties and that the key is to maintain a firm six-way structure.