U.S. dubs N Korea 'ballistic missile merchant'

South Korean protesters shout slogans as police officers block their way to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush's national security adviser Condoleezza Rice Thursday called North Korea a "merchant for ballistic missile technology" that is willing to sell the weapons "to just about anybody who will buy."

"The North Koreans have been known to go around with glossy brochures about their ballistic missiles. They're stocking a lot of the world right now," Rice told reporters in a briefing about Bush's upcoming trip to Asia.

The comments were the toughest by the administration aimed at Pyongyang since President Bush called North Korea, along with Iraq and Iran, an "axis of evil" in his State of the Union address two weeks ago.

"I think it's very clear why North Korea is a part of the axis of evil," Rice said. "The North Koreans got on the list the honest way."

Rice described North Korea's leadership as a "secretive and repressive regime that is trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction, and therefore is a danger to peace and stability -- not to mention being the merchant for ballistic missile technology around the world."

But Rice also said the Bush administration is open to discussions with Pyongyang, saying the "ball is in the North's court" for dialogue to begin. And she said any future talks must take up serious world issues.

"We do not want dialogue for the sake of dialogue. That's not worth it," Rice said. "So far the North Koreans seem to be uninterested in talking. So the president's statement was to simply put the North Koreans, and also the rest of the world, on notice that we have to get serious about stopping them."

Bush in Asia

Rice refused to discuss specific details about the countries the administration believes North Korea is exporting weapons to, saying "we believe the North is exporting to just about anybody who will buy."

"Everyone, at this point, should be pressuring the North Koreans to stop doing what they are doing. What they're doing is very dangerous," the national security adviser said.

Bush leaves for his Asian trip Saturday, with planned stops in China, Japan and South Korea.

North Korea's official news media, the Korean Central News Agency, has denounced Bush's comments in his State of the Union address, branding the president as "crazy" and "reckless." It also warned Washington that North Korea reserved the right to self-defense.

"A string of unprecedented war outcries are heard from heavyweights of the U.S. administration and military bosses in the wake of the belligerent 'State of the Union' address," KCNA said.