Oct. 1 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. diplomacy in dealing with North Korea's nuclear weapons program drew the attention of two Asia specialists who watched U.S. President George W. Bush and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

In the debate, Kerry advocated two-way talks between North Korea and the U.S., while Bush called for six-country talks That include China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.

The issue of dialogue with North Korea arose from the country's October 2002 declaration to the U.S. that it renounced a 1994 agreement and resumed enriching uranium -- a step toward making a nuclear weapon.

``I think Kerry has the right idea,'' said Koh Yu Hwan, a professor at South Korea's Dongguk University who specializes in North Korean studies. ``The U.S. and North Korea are the ones holding the key to resolving the nuclear issue.''

One-on-one talks between the U.S. and North Korea would reassure a ``paranoid'' North Korea, said Michael DeGolyer, director of the Hong Kong Transition Project and an international studies professor at Hong Kong Baptist University.

``North Korea has been concerned about the six-country talks, which would allow talks behind its back,'' he said. ``That would ``let the U.S. turn their neighbors against them and open the door for American action.''

The six countries, which last met in June, had agreed to hold another round of talks in September. The meeting didn't take place. North Korea has said a hostile U.S. attitude may deter it from rejoining the talks.

To contact the reporter for this story: Tak Kumakura in Tokyo at tkumakura@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 1, 2004 02:42 EDT