US President George W. Bush said today that his country would be willing to consider formally ending the Korean War if the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ends its nuclear weapons program.

Bush made the statements after a meeting with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings.

The two leaders are in Sydney for series of APEC meetings which will culminate in the leaders meeting on Saturday and Sunday.

Bush stressed that the ending of the Korean War would depend on DPRK's leader Kim Jong-il.

After the talks, the two leaders gave briefings to reporters when Roh asked Bush to be more "clearer" on his position on an official end to the Korean War.

Bush said "I can't make it any more clear... We look forward to the day when we can end the Korean War. That will happen when Kim Jong-il verifiably gets rid of his weapons programs and his weapons."

The Koran Peninsula has been technically left in a state of war since the Korean War ended with a truce in 1953. A formal peace treaty has never been signed.