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(LEAD) Trump warns of total destruction for N. Korea

All News 00:46 September 20, 2017

(ATTN: UPDATES with more Trump remarks; RECASTS headline; ADDS photo)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to North Korea Tuesday, saying if pressed, he may have no choice but to "totally destroy" the belligerent regime.

In an address to the U.N. General Assembly in New York, broadcast live, Trump singled out North Korea as a "depraved regime" with a leader on a "suicide mission."

He especially made clear his commitment to defend the U.S. and its allies from North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile threats.

"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," Trump said in his first speech to the world body.

This AP photo shows U.S. President Donald Trump speaking at a dinner with Latin American leaders in New York on Sept. 18, 2017. (Yonhap)

This AP photo shows U.S. President Donald Trump speaking at a dinner with Latin American leaders in New York on Sept. 18, 2017. (Yonhap)

Using his new nickname for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, he also said, "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."

Trump has previously issued warnings of "fire and fury" for North Korea as tensions have escalated over the regime's pursuit of nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles capable of hitting the continental U.S.

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

In a speech that also called out Iran and other "forces of destruction," the American president urged all nations to work together to isolate Pyongyang until it stops its "hostile" behavior.

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

Trump thanked all those who backed the unanimous votes 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 as well as 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.

hague@yna.co.kr
(END)

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