North Korea’s foreign ministry condemned new U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for calling the DPRK a “rogue state,” according to state media, saying the “slanderous” remarks rise to a “grave political provocation that is in total violation of the principles of international law.”

Rubio’s remarks “once again confirm that America’s hostile policy toward the DPRK remains unchanged,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Monday.

The statement is the first time North Korea has commented directly on returning President Donald Trump and his DPRK policy since his inauguration two weeks ago.

Trump has since made a series