President Bush says he wants to see the Korean peninsula united one day in commerce and cooperation - not divided by barbed wire and fear.

Speaking at South Korea's Dorasan train station, near the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas, Mr. Bush said people from both nations want to live in freedom and dignity, without the threat of violence, famine and war. Mr. Bush also repeated his offer to open talks with North Korea - a nation he has described as being part of an "axis of evil."

Meanwhile, hundreds of demonstrators protesting Mr. Bush's visit clashed with riot police in Seoul. No serious injuries were reported. Mr. Bush's "axis of evil" remark has drawn strong criticism from some South Koreans who say it has increased tensions on the peninsula.

Earlier in Seoul, Mr. Bush called North Korean leaders "despotic" for allowing their own people to starve while the military develops weapons of mass destruction. But he added that the United States has no intention of invading the communist nation.

Speaking after talks with South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung, Mr. Bush said he supports Seoul's "sunshine policy" aimed at engaging North Korea. For his part, Mr. Kim said he sees no major conflict between his "sunshine policy" and President Bush's critical view of the North Korean government. Mr. Bush goes to China on Thursday.

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