North Korea ? North Korea’s ‘appalling’ human rights situation must improve before the country can expect to normalize relations with the United States, President Barack Obama’s special envoy on the issue said today.

In comments certain to anger North Korea, Robert King blasted its human rights record as a U.S. citizen remains under detention for crossing into the communist country last month without permission.

“It’s one of the worst places in terms of lack of human rights,” King told reporters after meeting South Korea’s foreign minister. “The situation is appalling.”