Franklin Graham urges Bush to meet with North Korean leader

The Reverend Franklin Graham says he believes that President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice should meet with North Korea's leaders face-to-face.

The Bush administration has rejected direct talks, insisting on multinational contacts instead. But Graham told CNN that he'd like to see the president meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il before Bush leaves office. Graham added that he believes Secretary of State "Rice needs to be over there before the end of this year."

Graham said that when he visited North Korea in 2000 with his Samaritan's Purse relief ministry, he met officials who insisted that their country be treated with respect. He said the North Koreans "wanted to be treated as equals."

Graham notes that he told top North Korean officials that he was visiting "in the name of Jesus Christ," and recalls that they bowed their heads in respect when he prayed before meals.