TRUMP THREATENS TO ‘TOTALLY DESTROY’ N KOREA
At his debut UN address, he calls Kim Jong Un a ‘rocket man’ on a suicide mission
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday vowed to “totally destroy” North Korea unless Pyongyang backs down from its nuclear challenge, mocking North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a “rocket man” on a suicide mission.
It was Trump’s most direct threat to attack North Korea for belligerent acts that have included launching ballistic missiles over Japan and conducting underground nuclear tests.
His comments rattled the world leaders gathered before him in the green-marbled UN General Assembly hall, where minutes earlier UN Secretary- General Antonio Guterres had appealed for statesmanship.
“The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea,” Trump said.
As loud, startled murmurs filled the hall, Trump described Kim in an acid tone, saying, “Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime.”
One man in the audience covered his face with his hands shortly after Trump made his “totally destroy” comment. Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom crossed her arms.
“THE US HAS GREAT STRENGTH AND PATIENCE, BUT IF IT IS FORCED TO DEFEND ITSELF OR ITS ALLIES, WE WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO TOTALLY DESTROY NORTH KOREA” “MAJOR PORTIONS OF THE WORLD ARE IN CONFLICT AND SOME IN FACT ARE GOING TO HELL” “I WILL DEFEND AMERICA’S INTERESTS ABOVE ALL ELSE” DONALD TRUMP, President, US
North Korea’s mission to the United Nations did not Cabinet members who have immediately respond to a stated their preference for a request for comment on diplomatic solution. Trump’s remarks. A junior In a thunderous 41-minute North Korean diplomat sat in speech, Trump also took aim at the delegation’s front-row seat Iran’s nuclear ambitions and for Trump’s speech, the North regional influence, Venezuela’s Korean U.N. mission said. collapsing democracy and the
Trump’s saber-rattling rhetoric threat of Islamist extremists. was in contrast to the commentsHe alsoof criticisedsome of the his Cuban own government.
“Major portions of the world are in conflict and some in fact are going to hell,” he said.
His strongest words were directed at North Korea. He urged United Nations member states to work together to isolate the Kim government until it ceases its “hostile” behaviour.
He said North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles “threatens the entire world with unthinkable cost of human life.”
In what may have been a veiled prod at China, the North’s major trading partner, Trump said: “It is an outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a regime but would arm, supply and financially support a country that imperils the world with nuclear conflict.”
Turning to Iran, Trump called the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor, Barack Obama, an embarrassment and hinted that he may not recertify the agreement when it comes up for a midOctober deadline.