In the United States ... Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has faulted George W. Bush's handling of the nuclear standoff with North Korea.

Speaking to a group of veterans in Huntington, West Virginia, Mr. Kerry said that if elected president, he would resume the direct talks with North Korea that were initiated by former President Bill Clinton.

Mr. Kerry said that in negotiations with the North, he would put all issues - including the nuclear standoff - on the table, including troop allocation and deployment and prisoners of war.

The Democratic presidential candidate accused Mr. Bush of misleading the country on everything from the war in Iraq to the economy and of breaking promises to veterans needing health care.

Analysts say that in his first visit to West Virginia since becoming his party