Tensions between the US and North Korea have escalated considerably this afternoon after Donald Trump delivered an aggressive speech at the United Nations General Assembly in which he said the US will have “no choice but to totally destroy North Korea”.
The worrying speech comes just days after Trump taunted Kim Jong-un via Twitter, nicknaming the North Korean dictator “Rocket Man”, a reference to North Korea’s allegedly extensive nuclear arsenal. Trump delivered his worrying speech at the U.N. Headquarters, in the presence of representatives from over 100 countries across the globe. Unperturbed by this audience, or the intense media scrutiny, Trump proudly declared:
“North Korea’s reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life. It is an outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a regime, but would arm, supply, and financially support 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. 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. Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime. The United States is ready, willing, and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary. That’s what the United Nations is all about. That’s what the United Nations is for. Let’s see how they do.”
However, not content with simply threatening an unstable dictator, Trump also highlighted many sketchy elements of the North Korean regime:
“No one has shown more contempt for other nations and for the well-being of their own people than the depraved regime in North Korea. It is responsible for the starvation deaths of millions of North Koreans. And for the imprisonment, torture, killing, and oppression of countless more.”
“We saw it in the assassination of the dictator’s brother, using banned nerve agents in an international airport,” Trump added, referencing the bizarre assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the eldest son of Kim Jong-Il who, until 2001, was the apparent heir to the North Korean leadership, until he fell out of favor. Exiled by his family, Jong-nam often criticized his brother, Kim Jong-un, before he was mysteriously assassinated in February 2017. Whilst investigations are still ongoing, it is believed he was killed by the North Korean government. But, Trump wasn’t finished there. He had plenty more to say… This isn’t the first time Trump has mocked the North Korean leader. In August, Trump announced: “[Kim Jong-un] has been very threatening beyond a normal state and as I said they will be met with fire and fury and frankly power the likes of which this world has never seen before.” However, this time he has taken things further, by tauntingly calling Kim Jong-un “Rocket Man” in front of many of the world’s most powerful people. “If the righteous many do not confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph,” Trump said, before hauntingly adding: “When decent people and nations become bystanders to history, the forces of destruction only gather power and strength.” The speech has caused an uproar online, with many crying out for Trump to evaluate his “taunting” of a “hostile nuclear power”… However, this isn’t the first tweet of Trump’s to cause concern this week. Earlier in the week, the US President re-tweeted a GIF of him hitting a golf ball into Hillary Clinton, knocking her to the floor. Instantly, the tweet caused outrage online, with former Vice President Joe Biden tweeting his disgust. “Just had the chance to see President Trump’s golf swing tweet. Enough. This has to stop. Our children are watching,” he wrote to his 2.2 million followers. So, all in all, it appears this week could be a bumper news week regarding the 45th President of the United States. We wonder what he will say or do next? Watch this space! In the mean time, here is Trump’s speech from today, in full:
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