"We strongly urge North Korea to visibly, verifiably and irreversibly dismantle any nuclear weapons programs, a fundamental step to facilitate a comprehensive and peaceful solution," the leaders said in a declaration.

They said Pyongyang's failure to abide by International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards constituted a "clear breach of North Korea's international obligations."

With respect to Tehran, the leaders said they would "not ignore the proliferation implications of Iran's advanced nuclear program," urging "full compliance with its obligation" under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Calling international terrorism the "pre-eminent threat to international security", the leaders of the world's most powerful nations said the "proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery poses a growing danger to us all."

They reaffirmed their commitment to international agreements such as the NPT, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, urging "all states which have not yet joined them to do so."

G8 leaders tackled a full agenda Monday at their annual summit in the French resort town of Evian, with global economic woes, the fight against terror, weapons proliferation and regional conflicts all up for discussion.

US President George W. Bush later left Evian after a working lunch with his G8 partners, heading to the Middle East for two landmark summits on the troubled peace process.

WAR.WIRE