Condi Rice the “Imbecile”

So says North Korea:

NORTH Korea has defended its missile launches ahead of an Asian security forum expected to focus on them, describing US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a “political imbecile” for criticising the tests.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) accused Dr Rice, who called North Korea a “completely irresponsible” and “dangerous” state for test-firing seven ballistic missiles on July 5, of distorting the facts.

However, the communist state also came in for criticism from a United Nations official who said the launches had prompted a cutback in food aid.

Dr Rice and her North Korean counterpart Paek Nam-Sun are due to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur on Friday amid international tensions over the missile tests.