WASHINGTON —  North Korea's criticism of the U.S. ambassador to Seoul will not result in any change in his assignment, the State Department said Tuesday.

Ambassador Alexander Vershbow is an effective representative of the U.S. government and he "continues to do his job just as any ambassador does his job," spokesman Adam Ereli said.

North Korea has urged South Korea to expel Vershbow as having slandered North Korea. The ambassador has called the North a "criminal regime" for alleged arms dealings, money laundering and counterfeiting.