US Secretary of State calls North Korea a 'rogue state,' Pyongyang criticizes US's hostile stance
Photo: Kim Jong Un, leader of North Korea (kremlin.ru)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called North Korea a "rogue state." In response, North Korea issued a remark to Rubio, stating that such statements would not serve the interests of the US, NBC News reports.
What preceded
The day before, Rubio made a comment about the "rogue state" in an interview with a US media outlet. During the conversation with journalists, Rubio referred to North Korea and Iran as rogue states.
What North Korea responded
On Monday, North Korea issued a remark to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over his statement. They said that his "coarse and nonsensical remarks" would not serve the interests of the US. This marked the first direct criticism of the Trump administration from North Korea.
"The hostile words and deeds of the person who is in charge of the US foreign policy served as an occasion of confirming once again the US hostile policy toward the DPRK which remains unchanged. Rubio’s coarse and nonsensical remarks only show directly the incorrect view of the new US administration on the DPRK and will never help promote the US interests as he wishes," said a spokesperson for North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
US-North Korea relations
It is worth noting that relations between the US and North Korea are tense, mainly due to North Korea's nuclear program, international sanctions, and serious political differences. Specifically, the US has called on Pyongyang to stop conducting nuclear tests and dismantle its nuclear infrastructure. North Korea has viewed such calls as interference in its internal affairs.
During an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that he plans to resume negotiations with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.
