North Korea and Iran wouldn't be laughing at our warnings, if our troops were not already spread thin. America has no respect in the world anymore. Largely because of Bush, but they know that our military is already spread so thin, that we couldn't take on another country. They are using it to their advantage...

Bush, speaking in Vienna after talks with EU leaders, said North Korea must abide by international missile test agreements.

"North Koreans have made agreements with us in the past and we expect them to keep their agreements," Bush said.

"For example agreements on test launches -- we think it would be in the world's interest to know what they're testing, what they intend to do on their test," he told reporters.

Washington says there is evidence North Korea might test-fire its Taepodong-2 long-range missile and has activated a ground-based interceptor missile-defense system in case Pyongyang goes ahead with a launch.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the North wanted talks with the United States over its planned missile test, a sign Pyongyang might be ready to step back from the mounting crisis.

Washington ruled out any special talks over the issue which it, along with South Korea and Japan, says poses a grave danger to a region already worried by North Korea's nuclear ambitions.