I had a flat screen TV installed in my office in Pyongyang and it was set to one channel,

KCTV, Korean Central Television.

Most days there was nothing on state TV during work hours, but every once in a while we

would get a heads up about a special news announcement.

And if North Korea's most famous anchor appeared, we knew to get ready to file news alerts.

We call her the pink lady, and that's because she often wears a hot pink traditional

Korean dress from major news announcements.

Like the one she dramatically delivers in April 2009,

announcing that North Korea has successfully launched a long range rocket to send a satellite into space.

Which leads to another launch?

And another?

And another?

And another?

And again?

And again?

North Korea insists these launches are peaceful that they're just scientific explorations.

But each time the missiles range gets closer to reaching its sworn enemy, the United States.

And they get more lethal in their potential effect if North Korea should go on the offensive.

And so, with every missile launch and nuclear test, North Korea becomes more isolated.

Because each time there's a new round of sanctions, especially financial ones,

so the country becomes increasingly shut off from the world economy.

It can't borrow money on the international financial market.

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