It’s war, N Korea claims of tweet

NORTH Korea’s foreign minister has accused US President Donald Trump of declaring war on his country and warned that Pyongyang would defend itself by shooting down US bombers.

“Trump claimed our leadership ‘ would not be around much longer’,” North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong- ho said, referring to one of Mr Trump’s tweets.

“He declared a war on our country. All the member states and the whole world should clearly remember it was the United States that first declared war on our country.

“Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to take countermeasures including the right to shoot down US strategic bombers even when they are not yet inside the airspace border of our country. The question of who won’t be around much longer will be answered then.”

On Saturday, Mr Trump tweeted: “Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at UN. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won’t be around much longer!”

But the Trump administration said on Monday it’s not seeking to overthrow North Korea’s government and called the assertion “absurd”.

Meanwhile, North Korean media has reported on comments from another of the country’s ministers, Sin Kyong- chol, who threatened to unleash a “shower of fire”. “Trump’s unprecedented rude nonsense one has never heard from any of his predecessors clearly showed the world his true colour as a ‘ political layman’, ‘ political heretic’ and wrecker of the world peace and security. Therefore, even Americans nicknamed him ‘ top lunatic of Washington’ and ‘ Pinocchio president’,” he said.

“There is no remedy but a shower of fire for such a war maniac running amok like a moth attracted to fire.”

Ri Chang Yong, identified as head of the department of foreign studies at Pyongyang University, added: “The DPRK possessed of the strongest nuclear weapons and military hardware will surely and mercilessly exterminate those Trump- led war maniacs.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop believes war with North Korea is not inevitable despite the latest explosive threat from Pyongyang.

“I believe that North Korea can be deterred,” she said.

“Obviously if North Korea were to follow through on its rhetoric and attack, there would be a retaliation,” she said.

WE WILL HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO TAKE COUNTERMEASURES INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SHOOT DOWN US STRATEGIC BOMBERS NORTH KOREA’S RI YONG- HO