North Korea calls Pompeo 'poisonous' to diplomacy

Ri Yong-ho says US secretary of state cast 'dark shadows' over nuclear talks

North Korea's top diplomat has called the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, a "diehard toxin" who only complicates denuclearisation talks and said North Korea was ready for both dialogue and standoff.

Talks aimed at dismantling the North's nuclear and missile programmes have stalled since a failed second summit between Donald Trump and the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, in Hanoi in February.