North Korea says Trump's U.N. speech sounded like 'dog barking'

Kim Hjelmgaard | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption 'The sound of a dog barking.' North Korea dismisses Trump's threats North Korea's foreign minister has described as "the sound of a dog barking" President Donald Trump's threat to destroy his country.

Pyongyang's top diplomat likened a vow by President Trump at the U.N. General Assembly to "totally destroy North Korea" if provoked, to the "sound of a dog barking." It was North Korea's first official response to the speech this week.

"There is a saying that goes: 'Even when dogs bark, the parade goes on,'" North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong told reporters late Wednesday at the U.N.'s headquarters in New York. "If (Trump) intended to scare us with the sound of a dog barking then he is clearly dreaming."

Trump made his debut speech at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday. He told world leaders and diplomats, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's longstanding goal of building nuclear-armed missiles capable hitting anywhere in the U.S. mainland: "Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime."

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When he was asked about Trump’s "Rocket man" comments, Ri said he "feels sorry for (Trump's) aides." Ri is due to address U.N. General Assembly on Friday.

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North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test to date earlier this month. It was subsequently hit with tough new U.N. sanctions. North Korea responded by launching a ballistic missile over Japan. The U.S. military, in turn, flew bombers and fighter jets over the Korean Peninsula and near Japan in a show of force.

"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 Tuesday, his latest aggressive remarks on North Korea in an escalating war of words that began this past summer. Pyongyang has responded with colorful statements.

There was no other North Korean government reaction to Trump's speech beyond Ri's. In fact, North Korea's official state news agency, KCNA, said Thursday that Kim was visiting a fruit farm. "I feel so good I feel like dancing," it reported him saying.

Trump said Thursday he will tighten the economic pressure on North Korea by imposing sanctions. He did not specify what would be in the sanctions.

South Korea's foreign ministry said Thursday that Seoul was considering various measures to intensify pressure on the North in the wake of the new sanctions, according to the Yonhap news agency. The foreign ministry did not elaborate.

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