North Korea's foreign minister on Friday called U.S.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo a "poisonous plant of
American diplomacy" and vowed to "shutter the absurd dream" that
sanctions will force a change in Pyongyang.
The North's blistering rhetoric may dim the prospect for an early resumption of nuclear negotiations between the countries.
A senior U.S. diplomat said earlier this week that
Washington was ready to restart the talks, a day after U.S. and South Korean militaries ended their regular drills that
Pyongyang called an invasion rehearsal.