President Trump denounced North Korea in his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly, and said leader Kim Jong Un is at risk of sparking a war it can't win against the United States.

"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 told the gathering, featuring representatives of the dictatorship and nearly 200 other nations.

"Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime," he said.

Trump: "If it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea" pic.twitter.com/KBVqFnGqZg — Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 19, 2017

Trump said North Korea is part of a "wicked few" upsetting global stability, not only by testing nuclear bombs and missiles, but by imposing policies leading to starvation and mass imprisonment of citizens.

Trump expressed hope the U.N. would continue to isolate North Korea, and said such situations "is what the United Nations is for."

Despite previously criticizing China for not reining in North Korea, Trump from the podium praised China, and Russia, for recently voting to add sanctions via the U.N. Security Council.

"I want to thank China and Russia for joining the vote to add sanctions — thank you to all involved — but we must do much more," he said.