Camp David, Md.
President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe threatened North Korea on Friday with the possibility of new sanctions unless it abides by its promise to shut down its nuclear program, while Bush invited senior lawmakers to the White House next week to discuss how to break the stalemate over Iraq war funding."We're hoping that the North Korea leader continues to make the right choice for his country," Bush said at a joint news conference with Abe. "But if he should choose not to, we've got a strategy to make sure that the pressure we've initially applied is even greater. That's our plan."
Bush was asked about the impasse with Congress over Iraq, with lawmakers planning to send the president a bill next week that would require the beginning of troop reductions. Bush voiced optimism that he eventually will receive a bill he feels he can sign, but gave no indication of what kind of restrictions or conditions he might accept in negotiations with Democrats. A meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at the White House.
Bush again made clear there is at least one deal-breaker: setting a deadline for pulling out U.S. troops. "If the Congress wants to test my will as to whether or not I'll accept a timetable for withdrawal, I won't accept one," Bush said, indicating a willingness to continue vetoing bills if necessary.
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