In his sternest warning to the Kim Jong Un regime to date, President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared that the United States will have “no choice but to totally destroy” North Korea if it did not back down from its “reckless” pursuit of nuclear weapons.
“Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime,” Trump said, using his latest expletive for the North Korean dictator. “The United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary,” he said, adding, “That’s what the United Nations is all about; that’s what the United Nations is for. let’s see how they do.”
Making his grand debut on the UN stage to address the 193-member General Assembly, Trump also chastised Iran, branding it the other “rogue nation” which, he alleged, exports violence and uses its oil wealth to fund the Hezbollah terror outfit.
He also focused on the growing threats of “radical Islamic terrorism”, asserting that his administration would not allow “loser terrorists” to “tear up our nation or tear up the entire world”.
“If the righteous many don’t confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph,” Trump said as he lambasted the Kim regime in North Korea, accusing it of starving its people, brutalising an imprisoned American college student and assassinating a brother and potential rival with poisonous chemicals.
“When decent people and nations become bystanders to history, the forces of destruction only gather power and strength,” he said, adding, “No one has shown more contempt for other nations and for the wellbeing 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.”
“If this is not twisted enough, now North Korea’s reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life,” he said.
“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,” Trump said.
Even while thanking Russia and China for supporting the recent UN resolution slapping stiffer sanctions on Pyongyang, Trump indirectly criticised Beijing for still doing business with that country, adding, “We much do much more. It is time for all nations to work together to isolate the Kim regime until it ceases its hostile behaviour.”
In his near 45-minute address, Trump strongly defended his “America First” agenda and said he would defend America’s interests above all else.
“As the 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,” he said, adding, “But in fulfilling our obligations to other nations we also realise it’s in everyone’s interest to seek a future where all nations can be sovereign, prosperous and secure.”
“The United States will forever be a great friend to the world, and especially to its allies. But we can no longer be taken advantage of, or enter into a one-sided deal where the United States gets nothing in return. As long as I hold this office, I will defend America’s interests above all else,” he said.
Turning to Iran, Trump, who as presidential candidate threatened to tear up the Iran nuclear deal, called the deal negotiated by the Obama administration along with five other major powers as “an embarrassment”.
“It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran’s Government end its pursuit of death and destruction,” Trump said, adding, “The Iranian Government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy.”
“It has turned a wealthy country with a rich history and culture into an economically depleted rogue state whose exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos,” he charged.
Stating that the world faces “great peril” from gathering threats posed by rogue regimes with powerful weapons and terrorists with expanding reach across the globe, Trump told the world body, “We meet at a time of immense promise and great peril.”
“It is up to us whether we will lift the world to new heights or let it fall into a valley of disrepair,” he said.
Trump, who has for long derided the United Nations as weak and incompetent, held out the promise that his administration would support the world body achieve its goals of pursuing peace.
“We do not expect diverse countries to share the same cultures, values or systems of Government,” he said. “But we do expect all nations to uphold their core sovereignty and respect the interests of their own people and rights of every other sovereign nation. This is the beautiful vision of this institution and the foundation for cooperation and success.”