
North Korea has criticized statements by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, labeling the Asian country as a 'rogue state.' The state agency KCNA published a statement from the North Korean Foreign Ministry in response to Rubio's comments. In this statement, Pyongyang considers the hostile remarks of the U.S. Secretary of State to be a serious political provocation and an incorrect view of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
At a press conference, the spokesman for the South Korean Ministry of Unification, Koo Byoung-sam, also criticized the North Korean statement. Koo asserted that it is North Korea that violates international rules and threatens peace in the international community. He emphasized that Seoul and Washington share the goal of denuclearization of Pyongyang, in opposition to the North Korean approach.
Furthermore, the Pyongyang Foreign Ministry statement condemned the new U.S. government's plan to strengthen missile interception systems for allied territories. According to this statement, the plan is considered dangerous as it justifies the increase of military forces under the pretext of facing threats, leading to the militarization of the common space of humanity.
These criticisms represent North Korea's first direct response to the Donald Trump Administration, following stalled disarmament dialogue attempts in the past. North Korea has reiterated its firm stance against U.S. provocations, maintaining its defensive position against perceived hostility.