Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TRUMP HAS DECLARED WAR
Tension rises amid threat to shoot down US bombers
NORTH Korea yesterday claimed Donald Trump had “declared war” – and vowed to shoot down US bombers.
The chilling warning from Kim Jong-un’s foreign minister came after President Trump tweeted a threat to destroy the rogue nation. Ri Yong Ho said: “We will have every right to make countermeasures.”
TENSIONS between North Korea and the United States reached fever pitch yesterday after the rogue state accused Donald Trump of “declaring war.”
The country’s Foreign Minister said it had the right to retaliate by shooting down US bombers even if they were not in North Korean air space.
Ri Yong Ho said in New York: “The whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country.
“Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country.”
The sharp escalation in the war of words raised fresh fears that the crisis could spiral from mudslinging to military conflict. Yong Ho, speaking as he left New York after last week’s UN general assembly, also echoed warnings from the Trump administration that “all options were on the table”.
Mr Trump has taunted Kim Jong-un with a series of outlandish tweets in the last few days, including dubbing him a “Little Rocket Man”on a suicide mission.
He tweeted at the weekend: “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!”
North Korea responded by calling him “Mr Evil President.” Mr Trump threatened the total destruction of North Korea and said the country would “pay dearly” after it launched a series of missiles, including two over Japan recently, and accelerated its nuclear testing programme. Pyongyang also released a new propaganda video yesterday showing North Korea supposedly “blowing up a US aircraft carrier and jets.” It came after the US carried out a show of military power by flying US bombers and fighter escorts to the most northerly point of the border between North and South Korea on Sunday.
The Pentagon responded to Yong Ho’s comments by warning it was drawing up military plans for Mr Trump. Spokesman Colonel Robert Manning added: “If North Korea does not stop their provocative actions, you know, we will make sure that we provide options to the President to deal with North Korea,” .
UN Secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned that a rise in rhetoric between North Korea and the United States increases the risk of miscalculations.
His spokesman said: “Fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings,.
“The only solution for this is a political solution.”
In a phone call yesterday British PM Theresa May and China’s President Xi agreed the situation in North Korea was “deeply troubling.”
A Downing Street spokesman added the leaders agreed “that North Korea’s recent missile tests were a flagrant violation of international commitments”.
He added: “They agreed the latest sanctions were a powerful sign of the international community’s unity.”