WASHINGTON — Rep. Heather Wilson said today that that she would favor sending to North Korea a bipartisan delegation, including New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, to negotiate an end to the Koreans nuclear bomb program.

"There's an argument for doing this in a bilateral way. He has experience," the Albuquerque Republican told reporters.

President Bush has steadfastly refused to engage in direct talks with North Korea, holding out instead for negotiations through North Korea's neighbors, including China and Japan. Richardson, who made several trips to North Korea under the Clinton administration, has been the most vocal critic of that strategy.

Wilson broke from the administration's policy Monday after weekend reports that North Korea had tested a small nuclear weapon. She called Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and White House National Security Advisory Stephen Hadley to urge direct talks with North Korea.

"There's nothing wrong with straight talk with people who aren't our friends," Wilson said.

She also said the United States should talk to allies and North Korea's neighbors to set up a plan to interdict any effort by North Korea to sell its nuclear weapons to terrorists.

"They will sell anything to anyone," she said.

Wilson said her break with the White House on North Korea has nothing to do with her hotly contested race with New Mexico Democratic Attorney General Patricia Madrid.

"What we do for the security of this country is more important than any House race," Wilson said.

Sen. Pete Domenici, Albuquerque Republican, said it's time for the United Nations to step in.

"The Security Council must take immediate action to sanction North Korea so that the nonproliferation threat is minimized and meaningful consequences are imposed to rein in this dangerous government," Domenici said.