TOKYO/SEOUL, Feb 19: US President George W. Bush on Tuesday pledged to boost Washington’s security commitment to its Asian allies.

Bush, who raised concern among many US allies last month by describing North Korea, Iraq and Iran as an “axis of evil”, arrived late on Tuesday at a Seoul military base after completing his japan visit. Protesters burned US flags and scuffled with police outside the base.

Addressing Japan’s parliament, Bush praised Tokyo for supporting the US-led military campaign in Afghanistan and promised that Washington’s commitment to Asian security would be strengthened.

“We stand more committed than ever to a forward presence in this region,” he said.

“We will continue to show American power and purpose in support of the Philippines ... Australia ... and Thailand.

“We will deter aggression against the Republic of (South) Korea. Together, Japan and the United States will strengthen our ties of security. America will remember our commitments to the people on Taiwan.”

Bush also said the United States would press on with a planned missile defence programme, which he said would help ensure the security of US allies in Asia.

That remark is bound to cause concern in China, which is deeply worried about the prospect of its neighbours, particularly Taiwan being brought under a US missile shield.

US officials have considered Iraq the most dangerous of the three regimes that form Bush’s “axis of evil,” despite public reluctance by key US allies in Europe and the Middle East for a new conflict with Iraq.

Many here worry that Bush’s tough line could hamper years of efforts by South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung, a Nobel peace laureate, to peacefully draw the communist North into dialogue.

Bush and Kim will hold a summit on Wednesday morning on ways to persuade the North to end its alleged missile sales.—AFP