Some Democrats agreed, while opponents of a military strike against Iraq made the reverse argument, saying the administration's muted reaction to North Korea, and its announcement that it wanted to solve the problem peacefully, should apply equally to Baghdad.
There were conflicting explanations on Thursday about why the administration kept the North Korean admission quiet for 12 days.
The White House said it simply wanted time to consult with Japan, South Korea and other Asian nations, and with members of Congress, before deciding its next step.
On Capitol Hill, conservative Republicans argued that the 1994 accord that froze North Korea's nuclear program -- an agreement the North Koreans now say is "nullified" -- should be scrapped, and they talked about new efforts to isolate North Korea.
But within the Bush administration, it has been a matter of some controversy whether to abandon the Clinton-era accord. Hard-liners have argued that it should be scrapped.
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