The verbal animosity between U.S. President Donald Trump and communist North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has intensified as the two leaders exchange jibes publicly for the world to see.
Responding to Trump’s remarks before the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, threatening to “totally destroy” North Korea if America were “forced to defend itself,” the communist dictator issued a statement written in the first person, a novel move for a North Korean leader.
“Far from making remarks of any persuasive power that can be viewed to be helpful to defusing tension, he made unprecedented rude nonsense one has never heard from any of his predecessors,” declared Kim in the statement, according to the Associated Press (AP). “A frightened dog barks louder.”
“I will make the man holding the prerogative of the supreme command in the U.S. pay dearly for his speech calling for totally destroying [North Korea],” he also said, adding, “I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire.”
Kim repeatedly referred to President Trump as a “dotard,” an arcane term used to describe a weak or senile elderly person.
South Korea described the dictator’s statement as “the first such direct address to the world by any North Korean leader,” reported NBC News.
Kim’s message to Trump came as North Korea’s foreign minister hinted the regime may test a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean to fulfill Kim’s promise to take the “highest-level” action against the United States.
“It could be the most powerful detonation of an H-bomb in the Pacific,” North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho, currently in New York for the U.N. General Assembly’s annual debate, told reporters, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News. “We have no idea about what actions could be taken as it will be ordered by leader Kim Jong-un.”
President Trump hit back via Twitter on Friday morning, the day after the U.S. leader announced that he planned to sign an executive order that would slap additional sanctions on Kim’s “criminal rogue regime”:
Kim Jong Un of North Korea, who is obviously a madman who doesn't mind starving or killing his people, will be tested like never before!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2017
The U.S. commander-in-chief wrote on Twitter, “Kim Jong Un of North Korea, who is obviously a madman who doesn’t mind starving or killing his people, will be tested like never before!”
This week, the U.N. also unanimously approved new sanctions on North Korea in response to the nuclear threat posed by the country.
President Trump has indicated that his mission is the “complete denuclearization” of North Korea, which has repeatedly been conducting nuclear program-linked missile tests, banned by the U.S. and the U.N.
During his address on the U.N. floor this week, President Trump, who has recently derided Kim as “Rocket Man,” threatened to annihilate North Korea if the United States were forced to retaliate in self-defense.
“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,” proclaimed Trump. “Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself.”
Kim acknowledged receiving Trump’s threat loudly and clearly.
“I’d like to advise Trump to exercise prudence in selecting words and to be considerate of whom he speaks to when making a speech in front of the world,” the rogue leader reportedly said.
The U.S. government and various analysts believe North Korea is moving closer to perfecting a nuclear missile that could strike the United States.
North Korean dictator Kim claims to have already developed an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capable of hitting the United States.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.