SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has made its first direct criticism of the Trump administration, particularly targeting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. On Monday, the North denounced Rubio’s remarks branding the nation a “rogue” state and cautioned that such “coarse and nonsensical remarks” will not serve the interests of the United States. This statement marks a clear indication that North Korea is not inclined to re-initiate diplomatic relations with the U.S. in the near future, even as Trump expresses intentions to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Several experts believe that Kim is currently preoccupied with sending troops to support Russia amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. They suggest that while his attention is directed toward the war’s developments, Kim may consider Trump’s overtures in the future, especially if he determines that sustaining a strong alliance with Russia post-war may be challenging. Moon Seong Mook, an analyst at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, noted, “At this moment, Kim Jong Un is eager to uphold a firm alliance with Russia, but it is uncertain if Russia will fulfill his expectations.”
Looking at the potential for rekindling diplomacy between Trump and Kim, during his initial term, Trump held three historic summits with Kim between 2018 and 2019, making him the first sitting U.S. president to engage with a North Korean leader. Although discussions regarding North Korea’s nuclear program ultimately fell apart, Trump’s hints of a renewed engagement have sparked speculation that talks may resume. On his inauguration day, Trump reflected on his relationship with Kim while addressing U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, suggesting that despite recognizing Kim’s negative intentions, he viewed the rapport they had built as significant.
In a Fox News interview aired on January 23, Trump described Kim as “a smart guy” who isn’t overly ideological, prompting a question about whether he plans to contact Kim again, to which he affirmed, “I will, yeah.”
Despite Trump’s overtures, North Korea continues its antagonistic posturing towards the U.S., maintaining a consistent pace of weapons tests and aggressive rhetoric. Kim has declared his commitment to implementing the “toughest” policies aimed at the U.S. In light of past negotiations that ended unsuccessfully—such as the collapse in Vietnam when Trump rejected Kim’s proposal to dismantle his primary nuclear site in exchange for sanctions relief—Kim could be skeptical about the potential advantages of engaging with Trump again. This breakdown in talks likely inflicted considerable domestic embarrassment on Kim, as noted by Kwak Gil Sup, the director of One Korea Centre. “Kim personally suffered huge humiliation due to a no-deal in Hanoi,” Kwak remarked, expressing doubt that Kim would easily entertain Trump’s advances.
In recent statements, Kim accused the United States of reaffirming its hostility towards North Korea, asserting that his nuclear enhancements are necessary to defend against foreign threats. Even so, experts predict that North Korea will likely abstain from high-profile military provocations like nuclear testing, recognizing that Trump is preoccupied with other geopolitical matters.
On Monday, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry indicated that Rubio’s statements vented a continuity of U.S. hostility, referencing Rubio’s remarks on “The Megyn Kelly Show,” where he highlighted both North Korea and Iran as rogue states while discussing foreign policy dilemmas.
Currently, Kim appears particularly focused on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, having dispatched an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 troops to aid Russia’s military endeavors in Ukraine. Furthermore, North Korea has supplied a significant amount of artillery and conventional weaponry to Russia. In return, North Korea is likely receiving economic and military support from Russia, with a landmark pact from last June between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin promising mutual military assistance in the event of an attack. However, there are rising concerns in Seoul, Washington, and their allies that Putin might extend advanced technologies to Kim that could enhance his nuclear missile capabilities.
The flourishing partnership with Russia has enabled Kim to maneuver through the pressures imposed by a U.S.-led campaign against North Korea. However, the sustainability of this alliance remains uncertain once the conflict concludes. “When the war ends, Kim might not be as crucial a partner for Putin,” noted analyst Moon. “If that happens, and Kim fails to secure the assistance he seeks from Putin, there’s a possibility he could redirect his diplomatic focus toward the United States.”
