However, attitudes toward North Korea were already so highly negative — 58% “very unfavorable,” 28% “mostly unfavorable” and 11% total favorable — that it’s not likely these recent events would have driven them much lower.

Americans held slightly more positive views of North Korea in 2000, 2001 and 2002, with favorable ratings in the 23% to 31% range. Perceptions of the country dropped after that, perhaps reflecting a reaction to President George W. Bush’s labeling North Korea, Iran and Iraq the “axis of evil” in his 2002 State of the Union address. North Korea has been at or near the bottom of this list since 2003.