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