SOUTHFIELD (AP) - Republican Sen. John McCain yesterday accused former President Clinton, the husband of his potential 2008 White House rival, of failing to act in the 1990s to stop North Korea from developing nuclear weapons.

"I would remind Senator (Hillary) Clinton and other Democrats critical of the Bush administration's policies that the framework agreement her husband's administration negotiated was a failure," McCain said at a news conference after a campaign appearance for Republican Senate candidate Mike Bouchard.

"The Koreans received millions and millions in energy assistance. They've diverted millions of dollars of food assistance to their military," he added. "We had a carrot-and-no-sticks policy that only encouraged bad behavior."

The Arizona senator and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., are considered their party's front-runners for 2008.

In response to McCain's comments, the New York senator's spokesman, Philippe Reines, said: "President Bush has been in charge of North Korea policy for six years, and two days ago we saw the brazen result."

Democrats have argued President Clinton presented his successor with a framework for dealing with North Korea and the Republican fumbled the opportunity. In October 2000, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made a groundbreaking visit to Pyongyang to explore a missile deal with Chairman Kim Jong Il. There was even talk of a visit by President Clinton.