Mixed reaction to Trump’s UN speech
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s speech to the UN, in which he warned he would “totally destroy” North Korea if threatened, reinforced the need for Pyongyang to realise it must give up its nuclear weapons, South Korea said yesterday.
In a hard-edged speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump mocked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a “rocket man” for his repeated ballistic missile tests. “We view the speech as portraying a firm and specific stance on the key issues regarding keeping peace and safety that the international community and the UN are faced with,” the office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said.
Trump’s most direct military threat to attack North Korea was his latest expression of concern about Pyongyang’s repeated weapons tests.
“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,” Trump told the 193-member world body. “Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime.”
US ally Japan, which Pyongyang often threatens to destroy, has taken a consistently hard line on North Korea, pushing for increased sanctions and pressure.
“We appreciate President Trump’s approach to changing North Korea’s policy stance, denuclearising the country and calling on the international community, including China and Russia, for their co-operation toward strengthening pressure on North Korea,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.
Meanwhile, Trump’s host of accusations against Iran in his speech was slammed by the Islamic Republic, who called the remarks “unworthy of a reply”.
“Trump’s ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times – not the 21st century UN – unworthy of a reply,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. “Fake empathy for Iranians fools no one.” Trump claimed Iran is a “corrupt dictatorship hiding behind the guise of a democracy”. He said Iran played a key role in supporting the Syrian government against the attacks of the Islamic State, and “supporting terrorism”.
“Trump’s shameless and ignorant remarks, in which he ignored Iran’s fight against terrorism, displays his lack of knowledge and unawareness,” Zarif was quoted as saying by Fars news agency.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro also rejected statements by Trump during his UN speech.
Trump warned that the US was weighing possible further actions against Venezuela. “We cannot stand by and watch,” he said.
“Venezuela is a building in New York, which can blackmail the owners of the building for sale, but Venezuela is not US real estate,” Maduro said. “The people of the US are with the Venezuelan people.” – Reuters and teleSUR