N. Korea delivers first criticism of Trump's second administration

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon.

North Korea has issued its first direct criticism of the second Trump administration, blasting the remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio who labeled the regime a "rogue state."

In a statement via its state media, North Korea condemned Rubio's comments as a "grave political provocation," reaffirming its rejection of U.S. hostility.

The regime warned of "tough counteraction," citing its longstanding stance of resistance to U.S. provocations.

While President Trump has continuously been expressing interest in reengaging with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, prospects of diplomatic talks seem uncertain, as North Korea has instead emphasized strengthening its "nuclear shield" in response to external threats.

As tensions continue to rise, experts are analyzing what the latest development means for Washington-Pyongyang relations and the broader security landscape.

For more on this, we invite into the studio Go Myong-hyun, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy. Welcome.

Also joining us from Washington D.C. is Joseph DeTrani, Former Special Envoy of the U.S. for Six-Party Talks. Great to have you with us.

(Go) 1. So let's start with Dr. Go, Considering all the remarks made by Trump on North Korea after his inauguration, what do you think prompted North Korea to issue its first direct criticism of the Trump administration? Do you think it was solely in response to the remarks made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio?

(De Trani) 2. Now to ambassador DeTrani, How significant is this shift in North Korea's rhetoric towards the United States compared to previous instances of diplomatic exchanges?

(De Trani) 3. North Korea has indicated it will answer "military threats" with military power—what could this mean? How does this stance affect international security concerns?

(De Trani) 4. In the wake of these comments, what do you foresee for the future of U.S.-North Korea relations? Do you think there is any room for negotiation, or has the gap between their policies grown too wide?

(Go) 5. As for North Korean soldier presence in the Russia-Ukraine war, South Korea's intel agency says there are signs that North Korean forces have ceased active combat in the region for several weeks. Dr. Go, Could this be a temporary strategy, or does this show deeper problems with the deployment?

(Go) 6. In fact, The National Intelligence Service has estimated over 3,000 casualties among the North Korean forces in Russia. What impact could such a significant loss of life have on the regime?

(De Trani) 7. Meanwhile, A joint motorway bridge project linking North Korea and Russia across the Tumen River is underway, with completion targeted by the end of 2026. Ambassador, How significant will this infrastructure be for enhancing trade and economic exchanges between North Korea and Russia?

(Go) 8. Lately, we also hear that North Korea could be willing to accept Chinese tourists from February. The regime was only opened to tourists from Russia since the COVID-19 pandemic. How much do you think this would affect the domestic economy? Could you also tell us about the regime's economic situation thesedays?

(De Trani) 9. All of this seems to be some good news for the North Korean economy, which is still under global sanctions. Ambassador, should we be worried about the regime's economy recovering and further developing its nuclear weapons?

(Go) 10. How about you? Are you concerned about the effectiveness of economic sanctions imposed by the international community on North Korea?