Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush said a United Nations resolution that punishes North Korea for its nuclear activities will help prevent Kim Jong Il's isolated country from building and exporting atomic weapons.

``We will send a clear message to the North Korean regime that its actions will not be tolerated,'' Bush said in his weekly radio broadcast. The U.S. and other countries ``agree on the need for a strong United Nations Security Council resolution that will require North Korea to dismantle its nuclear programs,'' he said.

The Security Council today voted 15 to 0 to adopt the resolution, which Bush this afternoon told reporters was ``swift and tough.'' Agreement came after the U.S. introduced amendments that addressed objections by China and Russia.

China sought greater assurances that the resolution couldn't be used to justify armed seizure of North Korean ships traveling in international waters, while Russia was concerned about the scope of weapons-related items included in the embargo.

Cargo Inspection

The resolution bars the sale or transfer of missile, warships, tanks, attack helicopters and combat aircraft, as well as missile- and nuclear-related goods to the North Korean government, and also calls for UN member nations to conduct inspection of cargo going to of from North Korea.

Bush said in his radio address that the resolution should ``specify measures to prevent North Korea from importing or exporting nuclear or missile technologies'' and ``should prevent financial transactions or asset transfers that would help North Korea develop its nuclear or missile capabilities.''

North Korea announced Oct. 9 that it had carried out its first nuclear test, drawing condemnation from around the world.

In a concession to China, the U.S. earlier dropped explicit reference to a part of the UN Charter that would make sanctions militarily enforceable, changing it to Article 41 of Chapter 7, which only authorizes diplomatic and economic sanctions. The Washington Post reported this morning that China wants greater assurances that the resolution couldn't be used to justify armed seizure of North Korean ships traveling in international waters.

Carrot and Stick

``We will give the nations with the closest ties to North Korea -- China and South Korea -- a framework to use their leverage to pressure Pyongyang and persuade its regime to change course,'' Bush said in his radio address. The president told reporters this afternoon that if North Korea verifiably ends its weapons program, the U.S. and other nations will provide economic help.

Bush said the U.S. will keep consulting with allies in the region.

``In response to North Korea's provocation, we will seek to increase our defense cooperation with our allies, including cooperation on ballistic missile defense to protect against North Korean aggression, and cooperation to prevent North Korea from importing or exporting nuclear or missile technologies,'' Bush said in the address.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo Oct. 17-22 to talk about the resolution and ``how to go about actually implementing that resolution,'' State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters yesterday in Washington.

Radioactivity Detected

The U.S. notified South Korea today that it had detected evidence of radioactivity near the site where North Korea claims it conducted the nuclear test.

``The U.S. informed us of its findings,'' said Chun Ki Seok an official at the public affairs division of the Defense Ministry in Seoul. ``The detection of radioactivity means the North conducted a nuclear test. But we are still unaware of whether the test succeeded.''

``With its actions this week, the North Korean regime has once again broken its word, provoked an international crisis, and denied its people the opportunity for a better life,'' Bush said.

To contact the reporters on this story: Brendan Murray in Washington at brmurray@bloomberg.net Bill Varner at the United Nations at wvarner@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 14, 2006 16:21 EDT