An opinion piece published in a North Korean newspaper Thursday refers to President Trump as a "psychopath" who may launch a preemptive strike on the country to distract from his "tough situation" at home.

The commentary was published in the state newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, and reported by the Washington Post. The article suggests the U.S. is suffering from its own domestic problems, which may include the "impeachment of Trump."

It goes on to say Trump is considering a preemptive strike against North Korea because of his own situation — an apparent reference to the investigations into ties between Trump campaign associates and Russia — and points to action taken by past U.S. presidents who were also trying to distract from problems in the U.S.

For example, the commentary states former President Harry Truman entered the Korean War in 1950 to distract from U.S. economic issues, and former President Bill Clinton launched an attack against Iraq in 1998 to divert attention away from the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

The commentary ends by stating South Korea should recognize "following psychopath Trump … will only lead to disaster."

Tensions with North Korea escalated in recent days following the death of Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old University of Virginia student who was released last week after spending 17 months detained in North Korea.

Warmbier returned to the United States in a vegetative state, and doctors said he lost tissue in all areas of the brain. The cause of his injuries is not yet known.

Trump criticized Pyongyang and the "brutality of the North Korean regime" following Warmbier's death and said the U.S. would respond.

Trump had been relying on China to help deal with North Korea and pressure the country to restrain its nuclear weapons and missile programs.

But on Tuesday, following Warmbier's death, the president said efforts by the Chinese government hadn't worked out.