Instant reaction to Bush speech

US President George W. Bush said in his State of the Union address the United States would open a new phase in Iraq after its election, focusing on training Iraqi forces.

He pledged $350 million in aid to the Palestinians to bolster security and economic development and said the goal of Palestinian statehood was within reach.

Mr Bush, who three years ago said Iran and North Korea were part of an "axis of evil" together with Iraq, emphasised diplomacy in dealing with the two countries. He said America was working closely with Asian governments to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Following are comments from political analysts in Asia on Mr Bush's speech:

Yasuhiko Yoshida, Korea expert, Osaka University Of Economics and Law:

"Bush refrained from making a harsh statement on North Korea because he wants to put six-party talks back on track. Bush does not want to scrap the six-party framework.

"In the second four-year term, Bush is expected to take more flexible policy and listen to North Korea more closely.

"In his first four-year term, Bush had tried to demonstrate his presence by overturning what Bill Clinton did. But in his second term ... I believe Bush will take a more realistic and flexible approach. "We can't expect dramatic progress in a short period but gradual progress will be achieved and the issue could be settled by the end of Bush's second term in office."

Aldo Borgu, senior analyst, The Australian Strategic Policy Institute:

"Some people are suggesting it seemed to be much more conciliatory, in terms of wanting to engage more throughout the world. I'd still tend to view that more as words. I don't think there's any changes in policy. What you'll probably find with the US is more in changing their PR strategy in how they present themselves to the world, and how they present their policies and their arguments, rather than changes in the policy itself. "He's toned down the language (on Iran and North Korea). I don't think that reflects a change in policy. It just reflects a change in presentation. I think they just realise they can't be unilateralist in doing all of these things, even though they still are and still will be. What you are going to find is a change in PR strategy."

Lee Sang-Hyun, head of security studies at South Korea's Sejong Institute:

"This is considerably milder than what we expected, especially after the reports of uranium and plutonium. North Korea will, in the short term, think it is fortunate.

"But Bush also talked about ending tyranny, and in the long term, this will result in North Korea expecting continued pressure.