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US lawmakers Tuesday pushed the Bush administration to take a tougher line on North Korea, calling for a cut in all aid to Pyongyang, including food.

Slamming President George W. Bush's stance toward North Korea as lacking "a coherent message," Republican John McCain joined with Democrat Evan Bayh and other Republicans to introduce legislation to reimpose sanctions lifted in 1999.

The bill also urges Bush to impose additional sanctions on North Korea -- such as interdicting weapons shipments -- and enhancing US military presence in the region, and stipulates that any agreement with North Korea on ending its nuclear program include inspections provisions.

"At the end of the day," added Senate Majority Leader Republican Bill Frist, "what is most important is rejection of (Pyongyang's) nuclear arsenal."

But Senator Dick Lugar, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations committee, who favors Washington remaining engaged with Pyongyang, disagreed with lawmakers stepping into the political storm.

"I would not favor legislation at this point," he said.

"North Korea needs to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I would guess they want food, fuel and economic entrees."

Bush, who has said he loathes Stalinist leader Kim Jong Il and made his starved state a charter member of his "axis of evil," has offered Pyongyang a clear prospect of economic and political gains in return for dismantling its nuclear programs.

"We expect them to disarm. We expect them not to develop nuclear weapons, and if they so choose to do so -- their choice -- then I will reconsider whether or not we will start the bold initiative," Bush said as he met Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski.

Senate Minority Leader Democrat Tom Daschle said his party was prepared to work with the administration on defusing the crisis, but added: "it's critical we enter into direct talks."

Daschle added New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was expected Wednesday to brief lawmakers on the adminstration's view of the situation.

The senators' proposal would prohibit any US assistance to North Korea or the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization, impose sanctions lifted in 1999 and encourage Bush to interdict any weapons-related shipments to and from the country.

It would also encourage the president to obtain multilateral sanctions and declare support for the US and its allies to reinforce their military presence in the region to ensure "the highest level of deterrence."

"The crisis created by North Korea's pursuit of a nuclear weapons arsenal poses a direct threat to the security of the American people," said Republican Senator Jon Kyl, a sponsor of the legislation.

"Our goal is to avoid conflict and secure a verifiable agreement so that North Korea abandons its nuclear ambitions."

Earlier, Democratic Representative Ed Markey, co-chairman of the House Bipartisan Task Force on Nonproliferation, insisted North Korea's announced withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty demanded a tough response.

"How we handle North Korea's bid to use nuclear blackmail as a negotiating tool is a watershed moment for the world," he said in a statement, calling on Pyongyang to agree to a verified dismantling of its nuclear weapons programs under international supervision.

Markey was working on introducing a similar bill in the House of Representatives when that chamber returns from a two-week recess.

"We think there will be considerable interest," said his spokesman, Israel Klein.

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