Trump: US 'will totally destroy' North Korea if necessary

U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters, September 19, 2017 in New York City. / AFP-Yonhap

By Park Si-soo

U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to “totally destroy” North Korea unless Pyongyang backs down from its nuclear provocation, in his first address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York Tuesday (local time).

It was his most direct threat to attack the reclusive state for belligerent acts, including the Sept. 3 nuclear test and the launch of ballistic missiles.

Trump singled out the North a “rogue regime” and mocked its leader Kim Jong-un as a “rocket man” on a suicide mission.

“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," he said.

Trump said the North Korean leader is on a path to destruction.

“Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime,” he said. "The United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary.

"Now North Korea's reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life."

His acid comments rattled world leaders gathered before him in the green-marbled U.N. General Assembly hall, according to Reuters.

One man in the audience reportedly covered his face with his hands shortly after Trump made his "totally destroy" comment. Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom crossed her arms, according to Reuters. North Korea's mission to the U.N. did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump's remarks, according to reports.

The U.N. Security Council recently adopted two "hard-hitting" sanctions resolutions against North Korea. But Trump said “we must do much more."

He thanked all those who backed the unanimous vote for the sanctions, and especially China and Russia. But he deplored some nations’ ongoing trade with the regime, saying they provide arms and financial support to a country that "imperils the world" with nuclear conflict.

"No nation on earth has an interest in seeing this band of criminals arm itself with nuclear weapons and missiles," he said.

Trump went further to condemn human rights abuses by the Kim regime.

He blamed it for the "starvation deaths" of millions of North Koreans and the imprisonment, torture, killing and oppression of "countless more." In particular, he cited the case of American college student Otto Warmbier, who was arrested in North Korea last year for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster and returned to the U.S. in a coma in June. The 22-year-old died several days later.

Trump also accused North Korea of kidnapping a 13-year-old Japanese girl and enslaving her as a language tutor for North Korean spies..