Senior aides to President Trump advised him not to make any personal remarks regarding North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un this week at the United Nations General Assembly, out of concern that the attacks would escalate an already tense situation with Pyongyang and prevent any negotiation from occurring.
Speaking to world leaders in New York on Tuesday, Trump taunted Kim, calling him “Rocket Man,” and said he was on a “suicide mission.” Trump also warned that the U.S. would have “no choice but to totally destroy North Korea” if the rogue regime threatened the U.S. or its allies.
This language was not in a speech draft that several senior officials examined Monday, and senior officials, including National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, had reiterated for months to not make attacks against Kim because there could be negative repercussions, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Now some advisers are concerned that the mocking has removed any hope of negotiating with North Korea.
“I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire,” Kim said in response to Trump’s speech, noting that he will make Trump “pay dearly” for his words.
Additionally, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said Pyongyang may conduct a hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific Ocean to demonstrate its “highest-level” of possible actions against the U.S. following Trump’s remarks.
“It could be the most powerful detonation of an H-bomb in the Pacific,” Ri told reporters, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency on Thursday. “We have no idea about what actions could be taken as it will be ordered by leader Kim Jong Un.”
The Trump administration released new financial sanctions Thursday against North Korea which would limit foreign companies to conduct business with either only the United States or North Korea.
