Trump warns ‘Rocket Man’ Kim
He vows to ‘totally destroy’ North Korea and berates foes
NEW YORK: President Donald Trump warned “Rocket Man” Kim Jong-un is on a “suicide mission” and threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea if it targets the United States or its allies, in a bellicose maiden address to the UN.
Appearing for the first time before the 193-member organisation that emerged from the ashes of World War II, Trump boasted of America’s military strength, signalled he was ready to rip up a nuclear accord with the “murderous regime” in Teheran, and berated US foes in Pyongyang, Venezuela, Syria and Cuba.
“The United States has great strength and patience,” Trump said, “but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea,” he warned.
“Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime,” he said, using his new nickname for the North Korean leader.
Trump pilloried Iran as a corrupt “rogue state” and threatened to rip up the landmark international deal struck in 2015 to curb Teheran’s nuclear programme.
“Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don’t think you’ve heard the last of it,” Trump told the UN General Assembly.
“It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran’s government end its pursuit of death and destruction.” But, the US leader added, the greatest threat to the Teheran regime was not the American military, but the Iranian people who want change.
The packed General Assembly hall greeted Trump’s tough rhetoric and calls for individual nation states – rather than supranational bodies – to form the basis of the global order with periods of silence punctuated by polite applause during his 42 minutes of remarks.
Trump did not back away from his populist “America First” campaign rhetoric, but instead suggested it should be an example to other UN members.
“Our respect for sovereignty is also a call for action. All people deserve a government that cares for their safety, their interests.”
“As long as I hold this office, I will defend America’s interests above all else, but in fulfilling our obligations to our nations, we also realise that it’s in everyone’s interests to seek the future where all nations can be sovereign, prosperous and secure,” he said.