PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH CALLED ON NORTH KOREA ON MONDAY TO TELL THE WORLD WHAT IT HAS ATOP A MISSILE THE UNITED STATES BELIEVES IT IS PREPARING TO TEST-FIRE AND TO HEED WARNINGS NOT TO LAUNCH IT, REUTERS REPORTED. THE WHITE HOUSE SAID BUSH HAS A NUMBER OF OPTIONS IF NORTH KOREA FIRES OFF THE MISSILE BUT THAT THE FOCUS FOR NOW IS ON REACHING A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE STANDOFF. WASHINGTON, WHICH HAS WARNED OF A HARSH RESPONSE IF NORTH KOREA GOES AHEAD WITH THE SECRECY-SHROUDED LAUNCH, SAYS PYONGYANG IS PREPARING TO TEST A LONG-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILE EXPERTS BELIEVE HAS THE RANGE TO REACH THE UNITED STATES. "THE NORTH KOREANS SHOULD NOTIFY THE WORLD OF THEIR INTENTIONS, WHAT THEY HAVE ON TOP OF THAT VEHICLE," BUSH SAID. "SO WE DON'T KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW, THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM, IT'S A NON-TRANSPARENT SOCIETY THAT OUGHT TO BE SHARING ITS INTENTIONS WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD. CALLING SUCH A LAUNCH "PROVOCATIVE," BUSH SAID: "I WAS PLEASED TO HEAR THAT THE CHINESE HAVE DELIVERED THAT MESSAGE TO THE NORTH KOREANS, AND WE WOULD HOPE THAT THE LEADER IN NORTH KOREA LISTENED TO THE CHINESE." MEMBERS OF THE NOW-STALLED SIX-PARTY TALKS WITH NORTH KOREA ON ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM, SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN, CHINA AND RUSSIA, HAVE PRESSURED PYONGYANG NOT TO CARRY OUT THE MISSILE TEST. ASKED WHETHER BUSH HAD GIVEN THE ORDER TO SHOOT DOWN ANY NORTH KOREAN MISSILE, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN TONY SNOW TOLD REPORTERS: "LET'S NOT PLAY THE 'IF-WHEN' GAME. THE PRESIDENT HAS A NUMBER OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO HIM, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT OPTION RIGHT NOW IS TO WORK DIPLOMACY,"
