Bush chides China, NKorea on rights records

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

SEOUL (AFP) — US President George W. Bush chided China and North Korea Wednesday on their human rights records but defended his decision to attend this week's Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

The US leader, in a strong message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, said Kim would continue to lead "the most sanctioned regime in the world" unless he honours nuclear disarmament commitments.

Bush said it was premature to drop the communist North from the "axis of evil" he had proclaimed back in 2002.

He was speaking at a press conference after summit talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak.

Bush has been accused of overlooking China's rights record with his decision to attend Friday's Games opening. But he said he did not need the Olympic issue to...