The United States is committed to solving the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in a diplomatic way, US President George W. Bush said here on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Australian Prime Minister John Howard at the White House, Bush said that he hoped a new round of six-party nuclear crisis talks this month would help DPRK leader Kim Jong-Il see "common sense."

"We're sincere about working with China and South Korea and Japan and Russia to bring some common sense to the leader of North Korea," Bush said.

The DPRK began boycotting the six-party talks after the third round of six-party ended in June 2004, rejecting a US offer then on the table which required an up-front pledge to dismantle all nuclear programs before getting energy and other assistance.

The fourth round of the talks, involving the United States, theDPRK, the Republic of Korea, China, Japan and Russia, is expected to take place in Beijing on July 26 after one-year consultations among participating states of the talks.