The decision by President Donald Trump to return North Korea to the list of nations identified as state sponsors of terrorism is unlikely to have a significant practical impact, although it can be guaranteed to get under the skin of Kim Jong-un.

And, after the barbed exchanges between the two leaders in recent months, it is very possible that was Mr Trump's prime motivation.

The US leader announced on Monday that the "murderous regime" in Pyongyang was back on Washington's terror blacklist - a move that was "long overdue" - while a new wave of sanctions would also be imposed against Mr Kim's regime.

North Korea's state media has so far made no direct comment on Washington's decision, although anticipatory editorials in the last two days have been vitriolic in their criticisms of Mr Tump.

The Minju Joson on Sunday stated that "the old lunatic Trump" had "spouted a load of rubbish" on his recent visit to South Korea and "malignantly hurt the dignity of the supreme leadership of the DPRK".