North Korea Calls Israeli Foreign Minister an “Imbecile”

North Korea has reacted, and predictably, to the allegations of the Israeli Foreign Minister that it’s arming terrorists:

A spokesman for Pyongyang’s Foreign Ministry described Lieberman as an “ultra-rightist” and “an imbecile in diplomacy.” The spokesman, quoted by the North’s official news agency, said Israel was itself being criticized for its nuclear program and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. He also said it would never pardon Israel for “daring slander the dignified (North) by faking up sheer lies.” The North “has nothing to do with any spread of WMDs” (weapons of mass destruction),” the spokesman said. [Y-Net News]

North Korea is to diplomacy what Tiger Woods is to monogamy. Still, I’m guessing Israel has a acquired a more practical, sticks-and-stones approach to words like these. They may also be more interested in getting some rare validation from the United Nations:

A report by a UN panel says that Iran, Myanmar and Syria may have been involved in weapons smuggling by North Korea. [….]

The report identified 4 cases in which North Korea had smuggled armaments in violation of a Security Council resolution. It said the panel had received information that Iran, Myanmar and Syria may have been involved in the smuggling.

The report also said North Korea conducted the transactions under a paper company or other means instead of using companies designated as targets of UN sanctions, in order to avoid detection by other countries. [NHK]