Philippines only country in Asia-Pacific region with positive view of North Korea

In this July 4, 2017, file photo distributed by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second from right, inspects the preparation of the launch of a Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in North Korea's northwest. For nearly 70 years, the three generations of the Kim family have run North Korea with an absolute rule that tolerates no dissent. The ruling family has devoted much of the country's scarce resources to its military but has constantly feared Washington is intent on destroying the authoritarian government.

Philippines — Despite being concerned about North Korea’s nuclear program, a majority of Filipinos are found to have a positive view of the reclusive country, bucking the region’s distrust of Pyongyang, a study said.

Across the Asia-Pacific Region, only Filipinos have a generally positive opinion of North Korea, with 53 percent of respondents holding a favorable view while 33 percent had a negative sentiment, according to the Spring 2017 Global Attitudes Survey by the Pew Research Center.

This goes against a general trend of regional distrust in North Korea, with at least 45 percent of the people in Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, the US, Australia and Japan seeing the country in negative light.

Among the countries surveyed, the Japanese are the most negative on the North, with 94 percent of them holding an unfavorable view, including 78 percent who say that they have a very unfavorable attitude, according to Pew Research.

“In Australia, the US and South Korea, roughly three-quarters or more say they have unfavorable views,” the center said.

This goes against a general trend of regional distrust in North Korea, with at least 45 percent of the people in Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, the US, Australia and Japan seeing the country in negative light

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