A North Korean state-run newspaper blasted President Trump in an article Monday, calling him a “lunatic” with “war fever.”

“Dignitaries of White House, and State and Defense Departments of the U.S. are having a hard time cooling Trump, who is overheated with a war fever,” the article from “The Pyongyang Times” read, as reported by Newsweek.

“Lunatic Trump is running headlong into ruin, taking America with him, and the poor puppet forces are following him, at the peril of their lives,” the article continued.

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North Korea’s comments come ahead of Trump’s first trip to Asia since taking office.

The White House on Monday downplayed the possibility Trump may visit the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea, but said a final decision had yet to be made and that “security is not a concern.”

Tensions between North Korea and the U.S. have increased in recent months as Trump has stepped up his rhetoric against the country and its leader, Kim Jong Un.

During his first address to the United Nations General Assembly last month, Trump threatened to "totally destroy North Korea" if it continued to threaten the U.S. and its allies.



Last week, North Korea warned the U.S. would face an “unimaginable” nuclear strike for conducting joint naval drills with South Korea.

“The U.S. is running amok by introducing under our nose the targets we have set as primary ones," the state-controlled news agency KCNA said, according to Newsweek. "The U.S. should expect that it would face unimaginable strike at an unimaginable time."