Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says she was "absolutely" uncomfortable last week when she accompanied North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to an acrobatic and dance exhibition in Pyongyang that extolled the glories of Kim and his uncompromising communist regime.
Albright has never shown much regard for communists but seemed to be enjoying herself as she sat next to Kim while the performers went through their paces with more than 100,000 looking on at an outdoor stadium.
Her presence at the show in the North Korean capital and her demeanor has raised eyebrows in some press circles, and Albright has been trying to set the record straight.
In effect, Albright says she was ambushed. She told a television interviewer Monday night that Kim surprised her by inviting her to a meeting with him just hours after her arrival. During their meeting, according to Albright, Kim said, "I want to take you...