By Kang Ji-Hyun
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump are intensifying a war of words. Kim called Trump a "mentally deranged dotard" after the U.S. president authorized fresh sanctions against the North for its missile and nuclear provocations. The exchange of bellicose rhetoric and personal abuse between the adversaries is feared to escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. / Graphic by Cho Sang-won
Pyongyang warns of Hydrogen bomb detonation in Pacific
By Yi Whan-woo
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has threatened to take "the highest level of a hard-line countermeasure" in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to "totally destroy" the Kim regime.
In an unprecedented statement under his name, Friday, Kim warned Trump he will "pay dearly" for his recent U.N. speech, according to Pyongyang's state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim said his message is not a mere "expression of rhetoric loved by Trump."
Hours later, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho, who is attending the U.N. General Assembly in New York, told reporters Kim probably meant they would conduct their strongest hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific Ocean.
It was the first direct address to the world by any North Korean leader, according to South Korean government officials and analysts.
This suggests the young tyrant was apparently infuriated by Trump, who has upped belligerent rhetoric against Kim and his country.
"I'd like to advise Trump to exercise prudence in selecting words and to be considerate of whom he speaks about when making a speech in front of the world," Kim said in the English-language statement.
He said Trump's speech amounted to an insult and his country "will consider with seriousness exercising a corresponding, highest level of a hard-line countermeasure."
"As a man representing the DPRK and on behalf of the dignity and honor of my state on my own, 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 the DPRK."
The KCNA released a photo of Kim reading the statement, raising speculation his recorded voice will be released soon.
The dictator's statement added to the concerns over the exchange of belligerent rhetoric between the Trump administration and the Kim regime and a possible military conflict on the Korea Peninsula.
Although his administration has left the door open for diplomatic methods in resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis, Trump has apparently shown no respect for Kim as a dialogue partner.
Speaking before world leaders and top diplomats in his maiden U. N speech, Tuesday, Trump said "Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime" and the U.S. "will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea" if Washington is forced to defend itself or its allies.
In a rejoinder to the new nickname given by Trump, Kim blasted Trump as "a mentally deranged U.S. dotard."
Calling Trump a "rogue and a gangster fond of playing with fire," Kim also accused Trump of being "unfit to hold the prerogative of supreme command of a country."
"I am now thinking hard about what response he could have expected when he allowed such eccentric words to trip off his tongue," Kim said. "I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire. This is not a rhetorical expression such as those loved by Trump."
Minister Ri said it is up to Kim regarding what measure, although he speculated "This could probably mean the strongest hydrogen bomb test over the Pacific Ocean."
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said North Korea seems to be bluffing.
He claimed Pyongyang's purported detonation of a hydrogen bomb in its sixth nuclear test on Sept. 3 and the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) test on Sept. 15 suggest the reclusive state is ready with a nuclear-tipped missile.
"The IRBM landed in the Pacific Ocean after flying over north Japan, and it won't be too difficult for Pyongyang to fire another IRBM into the Pacific Ocean," Yang said.
Other analysts viewed that North Korea may use non-nuclear materials instead of a hydrogen bomb on its possible test.
Trump signed an executive order, Thursday, expanding U.S. sanctions on North Korea.
The order is expected to better target individuals and companies doing business with Pyongyang.
It especially enhances the Department of the Treasury's authority to target those conducting significant trade with the Kim regime.
Those involved in construction, energy, financial services, fishing, information technology, manufacturing, medical, mining, textiles or transportation industries in North Korea will be subject to sanctions.
The order was announced as Trump met with President Moon Jae-in and the Japanese prime minister on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
The three leaders had a consensus that the new executive order will be practical in triggering denuclearization of North Korea, according to the Seoul government officials.
In their one-on-one talks, Moon and Trump also agreed on expanding rotational deployment of U.S. strategic military assets and maintaining "overwhelming" military power against North Korea.
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