North Korea lashed back after a top U.S. diplomat labels it a ‘rogue state’

North Korea lashed back for the first time at the second Trump administration, threatening “tough counteraction” after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared it a “rogue state.”

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement via the KCNA state-run news agency, called the remarks by Rubio a “grave political provocation” and “strongly denounces and rejects such an undesirable expression.”.

The hostile words and actions of the U.S. official in charge of foreign policy reaffirm America’s unchanged hostility toward the DPRK,” a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“We will never tolerate U.S. provocations, which have always been hostile to us and will continue to be. As always, we will respond with strong countermeasures,” the spokesperson added.

Rubio made the comments last Thursday on The Megyn Kelly Show, describing a new era of global power struggles. “We are now dealing with China, to some extent Russia, and then you have rogue states like Iran and North Korea,” he said.

Second-term Trump has expressed interest in reopening talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, hinting at the revival of summit diplomacy during his first presidency. On the other hand, North Korea seems to move opposite: it has just unveiled a new uranium enrichment facility and pledged to reinforce its “nuclear shield.”

The Unification Ministry of South Korea also stated that North Korea has quickly reacted to early Trump administration actions.

“Since North Korea outlined its tough counteraction strategy at a key party meeting late last year, it has been responding immediately to U.S. moves,” Unification Ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam said Monday. “What’s clear is that North Korea continues to threaten global peace and undermine international norms.”

Experts say Pyongyang is closely watching Trump’s policies, perhaps angling for leverage in future negotiations.

“North Korea’s response shows how closely it is watching every move the Trump administration makes,” said Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies. “It also reflects Kim Jong-un’s deep distrust of the United States.

Lim said Pyongyang may be signaling that unless Rubio tones down his rhetoric, Trump shouldn’t expect a summit with Kim anytime soon.

North Korea also criticized Trump’s recent executive order to enhance U.S. missile defenses. On Jan. 28, Trump directed the military to develop an advanced interception system similar to Israel’s Iron Dome, which has been used to stop thousands of incoming rockets.

In a separate statement from its Institute for Disarmament and Peace, North Korea contended that expanded U.S. missile defense would only increase tensions. Pyongyang vowed to push back with “limitless military reinforcement.”

The university president, Yang Moo-jin, said in a statement that this is “probably to justify the continued development of its nuclear deterrent.” Another possible intention may be “an action to heap up leverage elements in view of negotiations with the U.S.”.