North Korea fires back at US, calls ‘Rogue State’ remark nonsensical
North Korea criticized the Trump administration on Monday, slamming US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks about the country. This marks the first direct criticism of the Trump administration from North Korea. The North Korean foreign ministry called Rubio’s “rogue state” label for the country “coarse” and “nonsensical.”
North Korea warned that such remarks would never benefit US interests. “The hostile words and actions from the person in charge of US foreign policy highlight the US’s unchanged hostility toward the DPRK,” the statement said.
The statement accused Rubio of showing the “incorrect view” of the new US administration. “His comments only reveal the wrong stance toward the DPRK and will not advance US interests,” it added. Rubio made his comments during a January 30 interview on “The Megyn Kelly Show,” where he also branded Iran as a “rogue state.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump seems keen to revive diplomacy with North Korea. He previously tried to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first term. Trump has suggested he would reach out to Kim again, expressing admiration for him.
In a January 23 Fox News interview, Trump described Kim as “a smart guy” and “not a religious zealot.” When asked if he would contact Kim again, Trump responded, “I will, yeah.” Trump’s remarks raised hopes for renewed diplomatic talks. He met Kim three times during his first term to discuss denuclearization. However, their talks collapsed due to disputes over US sanctions on North Korea. Despite this, Trump continues to emphasize his personal relationship with Kim.
North Korea has not directly addressed Trump’s comments but has continued its harsh rhetoric against the US. Kim Jong Un has ramped up his weapons testing activities. Last week, he visited a facility to produce nuclear materials and called for enhancing North Korea’s nuclear capacity. Kim framed this as a response to “hostile forces,” a likely reference to the US and South Korea.
Experts suggest that Kim now sees himself in a stronger position, bolstered by a larger nuclear arsenal and growing military ties with Russia. He likely believes these developments give him more leverage in any future negotiations.
