"We have to have other countries to put pressure on Iran, we have to have other countries to put pressure on North Korea, like Japan, like China, like South Korea and get those countries to really join in enthusiastically," Nunn spoke to reporters at the National Press Club in Washington.

"It's awfully hard to ask countries around the globe to do a lot more to fight against the North Koreans or the Iranians getting nuclear weapons if we ourselves seem to be increasing our dependence on nuclear weapons," Nunn said.

"We have to have an example we are setting ourselves."

The 24-year Democratic senator from Georgia chairs the Nuclear Threat Initiative, an private group opposing nuclear proliferation.

He specifically criticized Bush administration Pentagon plans to build a so-called bunker-buster bomb, a nuclear weapon designed to penetrate hardened, underground facilities where leaders, personnel or weapons could be hidden.

"We're not devaluating nuclear weapons. We're putting more emphasis on nuclear weapons," Nunn said.

"I think that is a real mistake and I hope that it will be reversed in this administration."

Nunn also said the Bush administration and Europe had missed opportunities to work together in attempting to defuse Iraq's nuclear program.

"We got to have carrots and sticks," he said.

"The Europeans have to be willing to do a lot more and get a lot tougher if the Iranians do not give up their nuclear abilities.

"We have to be willing to put some things on the table both diplomatically and in other ways, with the Europeans while they're making this effort.

"Both the Europeans and the US have to do a lot more to listen to each other and a coordinate their approach vis-a-vis Iran," Nunn said.

"I think you need carrots and sticks."

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