Speaking at a press conference at the White House, Bush said the United States will step up defense cooperation with its allies, including building up ballistic missile defense to "protect against North Korean aggression" following the North's claimed nuclear test.

Bush called for a "strong" resolution by the U.N. Security Council to "require North Korea abide by its international commitments to dismantle its nuclear programs," specifying measures to "prevent North Korea from exporting nuclear or missile technologies and prevent financial transactions or assets transfers that would help North Korea develop its nuclear missile capability."