North Korea: Pompeo’s Political Ambitions Are Driving His Failures

North Korea has long had problems with some of President Trump’s top advisers, particularly Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. In comments today, they once again mocked Pompeo as the “poisonous plant of American diplomacy.”

North Korea’s Foreign Minister said that “all things into which Pompeo thrusts himself go wrong and end up in failure.” They further said they believe his political ambitions are getting in the way of his role in US foreign policy.

There have been talks in recent weeks that Pompeo intends to run for a seat in the Senate next year. Pompeo has denied this at some points, but his frequent trips to Kansas have kept the rumors going.

North Korea has made clear in the past that they’d just as soon not deal with either Pompeo or John Bolton anyhow. Pompeo has insisted North Korea doesn’t get to decide that, but if he is on his way out the door, North Korean officials may decide it’s simpler to just wait him out before taking another stab at diplomacy.