North Korea responds to US missile defense plan

The country also said it would continue to develop its nuclear deterrent and other military capabilities for self-defense.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry's Institute for Disarmament and Peace issued the statement after President Trump signed an executive order last week pledging to pursue a next-generation missile defense system for the US and its allies.

According to a statement published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), this plan could speed up the modernization of the US missile defense system in the Asia-Pacific region, where many nuclear powers are concentrated.

The institute also said that Washington will accelerate cooperation with Japan and its allies in developing hypersonic missile interceptors, and deploy more advanced defense systems in South Korea, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

North Korea accused the United States of promoting its military hegemony ambitions, while asserting that Pyongyang will continue to develop defense capabilities to protect national security.

"The DPRK will unceasingly strengthen its military capabilities to cope with ever-increasing threats from hostile forces," the statement said.

On the same day, Pyongyang also condemned US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for calling North Korea a "rogue state" and vowed to take strong countermeasures. This is the first time North Korea has publicly criticized the US administration since Mr. Trump returned to the White House last month.

The statement from the North Korean Foreign Ministry came after Mr Rubio said in an interview with US journalist Megyn Kelly that Washington was dealing with "rogue states", including Iran and North Korea.

Pyongyang said the statement was a serious political provocation aimed at tarnishing the image of a sovereign nation.

"It is absurd for the US to dare to label another country as a rogue state," a spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry said, adding that this proves that the US's hostile policy toward Pyongyang remains unchanged.

The statement stressed that North Korea will never tolerate any provocation from the US, which has always been hostile to North Korea in the past, present and future. North Korea will take appropriate countermeasures as usual.

US President Trump has expressed his intention to restart dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, raising speculation that the two sides will resume summit diplomacy during his second term.

However, Pyongyang has yet to respond to these moves. Instead, the country recently released images of Mr. Kim visiting a uranium enrichment facility, emphasizing the need to strengthen the nuclear shield to protect the country from hostile forces.