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Donald Trump vows to 'totally destroy North Korea' if it threatens US Trump vows to 'totally destroy North Korea' if it threatens US
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump has said the US may have no choice but to “totally destroy” North Korea.Donald Trump has said the US may have no choice but to “totally destroy” North Korea.
In his first address to the UN General Assembly - and with North Korean diplomats sitting just yards from him - Mr Trump said he will have no option to resort to such actions if Pyongyang does not halt the development of its nuclear weapons programme.In his first address to the UN General Assembly - and with North Korean diplomats sitting just yards from him - Mr Trump said he will have no option to resort to such actions if Pyongyang does not halt the development of its nuclear weapons programme.
In perhaps the most striking piece of sabre-rattling yet, Mr Trump said that unless North Korea backed down, “we will have no choice than to totally destroy North Korea”.In perhaps the most striking piece of sabre-rattling yet, Mr Trump said that unless North Korea backed down, “we will have no choice than to totally destroy North Korea”.
In a reference to Kim Jong-un, he claimed the North Korean leader appeared to determined to choose a path of self-destruction. “Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime,” he said.In a reference to Kim Jong-un, he claimed the North Korean leader appeared to determined to choose a path of self-destruction. “Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime,” he said.
During the election campaign, Mr Trump frequently denounced the UN, saying that it was bad for democracy and wasted public money. On Tuesday, he did indeed urge the members to meet their financial obligatations.During the election campaign, Mr Trump frequently denounced the UN, saying that it was bad for democracy and wasted public money. On Tuesday, he did indeed urge the members to meet their financial obligatations.
But in a speech that appeared to be as aimed as much as middle America as much as the world leaders listening to him, Mr Trump spent much of his focus on the issue of North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme - something his predecessor, Barack Obama, warned would likely he his toughest foreign policy challenge. But in a speech that appeared to be aimed as much at middle America as at the world leaders listening to him, Mr Trump spent much of his focus on the issue of North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme - something his predecessor, Barack Obama, warned would be likely to be his toughest foreign policy challenge.
He said Pyongyang’s increased testing of intercontinental missiles and nuclear payloads, “threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of life”.He said Pyongyang’s increased testing of intercontinental missiles and nuclear payloads, “threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of life”.
“If the righteous many don’t confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph,” he said.“If the righteous many don’t confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph,” he said.
Most experts believe that any US preemptive strike against North Korea would result in many millions of deaths, not just in North Korea but in South Korea, which is threatened by thousands of conventional weapons. Most experts believe that any US preemptive strike against North Korea would result in many millions of deaths, not just in North Korea but in South Korea, which is threatened by thousands of conventional weapons. 
Last month, Mr Trump’s former chief strategist, Steve Bannon told a journalist from Prospect magazine that there was no viable military option for dealing with North Korea. Last month, Mr Trump’s former chief strategist, Steve Bannon told a journalist from Prospect magazine that there was no viable military option for dealing with North Korea. 
“Forget it,” he said. “Until somebody solves the part of the equation that shows me that 10 million people in Seoul don’t die in the first 30 minutes from conventional weapons, I don’t know what you’re talking about, there’s no military solution here, they got us.”“Forget it,” he said. “Until somebody solves the part of the equation that shows me that 10 million people in Seoul don’t die in the first 30 minutes from conventional weapons, I don’t know what you’re talking about, there’s no military solution here, they got us.”
Mr Trump said it was in the interest of the entire world to confront the challenge of North Korea - which he called a “band of criminals”.Mr Trump said it was in the interest of the entire world to confront the challenge of North Korea - which he called a “band of criminals”.
Yet he also said America needed, emphasising  his “America first” agenda, and said that while the United States would “forever be a great friend to the world and especially to its allies,” his primary responsibility was to Americans.Yet he also said America needed, emphasising  his “America first” agenda, and said that while the United States would “forever be a great friend to the world and especially to its allies,” his primary responsibility was to Americans.
“All responsible leaders have an obligation to serve their own citizens. Our government’s first duty is to its people,” he said.“All responsible leaders have an obligation to serve their own citizens. Our government’s first duty is to its people,” he said.
“In foreign affairs we are renewing this founding principle of sovereignty. As president, I will always put America first, just like you as the leaders of your countries will always - and should always - put your countries first.”“In foreign affairs we are renewing this founding principle of sovereignty. As president, I will always put America first, just like you as the leaders of your countries will always - and should always - put your countries first.”