Trump brands N Korea ‘a threat to civilised world’

President Donald Trump yesterday ratcheted up the pressure on North Korea, refusing to rule out eventual military action.

He also declared the US “will not stand” for Pyongyang menacing America or its Asian allies.

Mr Trump, on the first stop of his Asia trip, denounced North Korea as “a threat to the civilised world”, and exhorted dictator Kim Jong Un to cease weapons testing like the missiles he has fired over Japanese territory in recent weeks.

Though he stood in one of the Asia capitals in range of North Korea’s missiles, Mr Trump did not modulate his fiery language, declaring that Pyongyang imperilled “international peace and stability”.

“Some people say my rhetoric is very strong but look what has happened with very weak rhetoric in the last 25 years,” said Mr Trump, who stood with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe at a news conference in Tokyo.

Mr Abe, who has taken a more hawkish view on North Korea than some of his predecessors, agreed with Mr Trump’s assessment that “all options are on the table” when dealing with Kim Jong Un and announced sanctions against several dozen North Korea individuals.

Mr Trump and Mr Abe have struck a strong friendship, forged in meetings, phone calls and on the golf course, a friendship that was on display at a banquet yesterday which was the final event of Mr Trump’s visit.

Picture: Getty. Donald Trump raises a toast at a dinner hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.