CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: You know we've been focusing a lot lately on Iraq, but the standoff with North Korea has jumped right back into the headlines. Put in a "Wake-Up Call" to our State Department producer Elise Labott. She's on the phone now from Washington. Good morning -- Elise.</s>ELISE LABOTT, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: Good morning -- Carol.</s>COSTELLO: So the Democrats are blasting the Bush administration's policy on North Korea, calling it fuzzy and saying it should be paying more attention to North Korea.</s>LABOTT: That's right, Carol. Secretary Powell praised yesterday on Capitol Hill for his presentation to the U.N. Security Council on Iraq but the administration still under fire on North Korea for what Democrats say is downplaying the serious threat posed by North Korea. This week, the North announced it had reactivated one of its nuclear plants and threatened that if the U.S. were to strike that facility it would lead to an all-out war. Yesterday you heard Senator Barbara Boxer accusing the Bush administration of engaging in a foreign policy of which she called design neglect in an effort to keep everything focused on Iraq. And of course Secretary Powell pretty defensive about that charge. He said he and others in the administration continue to try and solve this diplomatically but isn't trying to get everyone in a panic by responding to this saber rattling by Pyongyang -- Carol.</s>COSTELLO: Got it. Elise Labott, we'll let you get on to work because I know you're dealing with a lot of snow in D.C. this morning, many thanks. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Wake-Up Call: Focus on North Korea, Not Iraq