The White House has rejected a demand by the North Korean government to enter into one-on-one negotiations over the North Korean nuclear program. Just yesterday, Pyongyang announced that it has nuclear weapons.

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan explained, 'It's not an issue between North Korea and the United States. It's a regional issue. And it's an issue that impacts all of its neighbors.'

American sources believe that the North Koreans have between four and 24 nuclear weapons depending on the size and design of the weapons. Some experts believe that the North Koreans may be bluffing to put extra pressure on the United States and may not yet possess the actual bombs themselves.

McClellan also reiterated that North Korea had violated its 1994 agreement with the United States that the North Koreans would freeze nuclear research in exchange for energy aid from the United States.

'North Korea violated that Agreed Framework and continued to pursue nuclear weapons,' McClellan said. 'We believe the six-party talks are the way to resolve this in a peaceful and diplomatic way.'

The six party talks involve the United States, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, China and Russia.

American officials are expected to speak with representatives from China in an attempt to draw the North Koreans back to the six party negotiating table. American diplomats are also trying to calm down nervous officials from neighboring countries who are disturbed about North Korea's new nuclear capabilities.

North Korea's announcement is a new challenge for the Bush Administration. While the president was busy invading Iraq, North Korea developed nuclear weapons and Iran appears to be on the way to developing them. Iran, Iraq and North Korea were touted as the 'Axis of Evil' by President Bush shortly after the September 11 attacks. With the U.S. military stretched thin in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bush's options in this case are limited. Thus far he has threatened to diplomatically isolate Pyongyang if it does not comply with U.S. demands. The six party talks are key for the president at this time.