| As North Korean diplomats prepare to take | | | | better job of what the Koreans call 'minjok |
| part in a regional security forum in | | | | giri', or 'Koreans only' - playing to this |
| Malaysia, Pyongyang is finding itself | | | | troubled but nevertheless long-lost brother. |
| isolated not just by its usual critics, but | | | | But they really haven't. In fact they've done |
| also by some of its usually friendly | | | | everything they can to offend virtually |
| neighbors. | | | | everyone in the South," he said. |
| | | | |
| North Korean state media on Tuesday lashed | | | | North Korea has defended the missile tests as |
| out at U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza | | | | important for its national defense and says |
| Rice Tuesday, calling her a "political | | | | they were conducted safely. Pyongyang in the |
| imbecile." | | | | past has said it needs missiles and nuclear |
| | | | weapons to defend itself from what it |
| Rice described North Korea as a "completely | | | | considers a threat of invasion by the United |
| irresponsible" state after it test-fired | | | | States. Washington denies having any |
| seven missiles without warning early this | | | | intention of attacking North Korea. |
| month. | | | | |
| | | | Kim Byun-ho, an expert on the two Koreas with |
| Those missile launches are expected to be the | | | | Seoul National University, says South Korean |
| primary focus at a Southeast Asian security | | | | public sentiment toward the North has taken a |
| forum in Malaysia later this week, which Rice | | | | turn for the worse. |
| and senior North Korean officials are | | | | |
| expected to attend. Because of the launches, | | | | He says even humanitarian groups that usually |
| Pyongyang is finding itself beset by angry | | | | set aside politics are so disappointed with |
| neighbors. | | | | North Korea that they are becoming hesitant |
| | | | about future aid efforts. |
| Japan imposed transportation restrictions on | | | | |
| North Korea after the launches, and may add | | | | Russia and the United States have joined |
| economic sanctions. China, Pyongyang's main | | | | China, Japan and South Korea in pushing |
| patron, supported a United Nations resolution | | | | Pyongyang to return to six-nation talks aimed |
| condemning the launches, and may be pursuing | | | | at ending its nuclear weapons programs. |
| financial sanctions because of alleged North | | | | Pyongyang refuses to do so until Washington |
| Korean counterfeiting and money laundering. | | | | lifts sanctions imposed on North Korean |
| | | | enterprises because of alleged financial |
| And South Korea, which has tried to engage | | | | crimes. |
| North Korea for several years, suspended aid | | | | |
| shipments to its impoverished neighbor. | | | | When he arrived in Malaysia Tuesday for the |
| | | | regional gathering, South Korean Foreign |
| Peter Beck, the Northeast Asia director of | | | | Minister Ban Ki-moon said he hoped to arrange |
| the International Crisis Group research | | | | informal six-party talks this week to help |
| organization, says he is surprised that North | | | | Pyongyang end its isolation. However, Ban |
| Korea has not even secured sympathy from | | | | indicated he was not optimistic of even being |
| South Korea. | | | | able to meet alone with his North Korean |
| | | | counterpart. |
| "I really expected the North to do a bit | | | | |