[SCMP] Even at the height of
North Korea’s belligerence, Southeast Asia’s leaders have resisted the urge to join the chorus of Western voices branding Pyongyang a "pariah state".This softly-softly approach, Southeast Asian diplomats and foreign policy experts say, reflects a region-wide belief that dialogue ‐ rather than tough talking ‐ is the best way to keep the reclusive but volatile country on an even keel.
And despite the unsettling circumstances of late, experts say the hermit nation’s bilateral ties with the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are unlikely to be adversely affected.
Pyongyang is suspected of being involved in the daylight murder last month of leader Kim
PudgeJong-un
...the overweight, pouty-looking hereditary potentate of North Korea. Pudge appears to believe in his own divinity, but has yet to produce any loaves and fishes, so his subjects remain malnourished...
’s estranged half-brother in Malaysia. Unhappy with official investigations into the episode, Pyongyang shocked Malaysia on Tuesday by blocking Malaysian nationals from leaving its borders.