Donald Trump issues stark warning to North Korea

‘Do not underestimate us,’ US president tells Pyongyang

President Trump addresses South Korea's parliament as part of Asia tour
The US president delivers a speech during his recent Asia tour
(Image credit: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

US President Donald Trump has used an address to South Korea’s parliament to issue a dire warning to North Korea over its continuing efforts to develop its nuclear weapons programme.

Trump urged all nations to join the US in isolating “the brutal regime of North Korea”. He said: “Today, I hope I speak not only for our countries, but for all civilised nations, when I say to the North: Do not underestimate us, and do not try us.”

The president also directly addressed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the speech, saying: “The weapons you are acquiring are not making you safer, they are putting your regime in grave danger.”

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

“North Korea is a country ruled by a cult,” the president continued. “At the centre of this military cult is a deranged belief in the ruler’s destiny to rule as a parent protector over a conquered Korean Peninsula.”

Trump “cast himself as more willing than previous US presidents to use military force against Pyongyang should they continue threatening the United States and its allies”, says CNN.

He “warned Pyongyang that while it may have interpreted past restraint by the US as weakness, there was now a different US administration in place”, reports the BBC.

Earlier in the day, Trump was forced to cancel a “surprise” visit to the heavily fortified Korean demilitarised zone (DMZ).

“Marine One left Seoul at daybreak and flew most of the way to the DMZ, but was forced to turn back due to poor weather conditions,” according to ABC News.

Trump is in South Korea for a two-day visit, part of a longer tour of Asian nations that will see him arrive in China later today.

To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us