North Korea has reacted strongly to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s reference to it as a “rogue state,” calling the U.S. the “most rogue nation” in return. This marks North Korea’s first official criticism since the inauguration of the Trump administration. In a statement released by the North Korean Foreign Ministry, they condemned Secretary Rubio’s comments during an interview with American journalist Megyn Kelly, where he listed North Korea among “rogue states” alongside China, Russia, and Iran.
The North Korean spokesperson argued that the hostile rhetoric from the U.S. Secretary of State is consistent with the unchanged anti-North Korea policy of the United States, labeling it a significant political provocation that violates principles of sovereignty and non-interference. They further criticized the remarks as unhelpful and misleading regarding the new U.S. administration’s approach towards North Korea, promising to strongly counter any provocative acts with corresponding measures.
Additionally, North Korea expressed disapproval of President Trump’s announcement to develop a comprehensive missile defense system, viewing it as an attempt to maintain military hegemony and threaten autonomous sovereign states. The state media, Rodong Sinmun, reported criticism of the planned expansion of the U.S. missile defense system, highlighting concerns over heightened military deployments, including advanced equipment like THAAD in regions such as South Korea and Japan, which they believe would destabilize regional security.