"Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime": Trump addresses the UN. Credit:AP "Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime," he said. North Korea's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump's remarks. A junior North Korean diplomat remained in the delegation's front-row seat for Trump's speech, the North Korean UN mission said. In his first appearance at the annual gathering of world leaders, the President used a 41-minute speech to also take aim at Iran's nuclear ambitions and regional influence, Venezuela's collapsing democracy and the threat of Islamist extremists.

US President Donald Trump speaks at the United Nations General Assembly. Credit:AP He also criticised the Cuban government. But his strongest words were directed at North Korea. He urged UN member states to work together to isolate the Kim government until it ceases its "hostile" behaviour. "We must not sleepwalk our way into war": UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Credit:Bloomberg He said North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles "threatens the entire world with unthinkable cost of human life".

In what may have been a veiled prod at China, the North's major trading partner, Trump said: "It is an outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a regime but would arm, supply and financially support a country that imperils the world with nuclear conflict." Turning to Iran, Trump said the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor, Barack Obama, was an embarrassment and hinted that he may not recertify the agreement when it comes up for a mid-October deadline. "I don't think you've heard the last of it," he said. He called Iran an "economically depleted rogue state" that exports violence. "It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran's government end its pursuit of death and destruction," he said.

The speech marked his latest attempt to lay out his America First vision for a US foreign policy aimed at downgrading global bureaucracies, basing alliances on shared interests, and steering Washington away from nation-building exercises abroad. Trump, who entered the White House eight months ago, told world leaders at the 193-member global body that the US does not seek to impose its will on other nations and will respect other countries' sovereignty. "I will defend America's interests above all else," he said. "But in fulfilling our obligations to other nations we also realise it's in everyone's interest to seek a future where all nations can be sovereign, prosperous and secure." Reading carefully from a script, Trump said the US military would soon be the strongest it has ever been. Turning to Venezuela, Trump called the collapsing situation there "completely unacceptable" and said the US was considering what further actions it can take.

"We cannot stand by and watch," he said. Reaction International reaction was swift. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying: "Trump's shameless and ignorant remarks, in which he ignored Iran's fight against terrorism, displays his lack of knowledge and unawareness." He also took to Twitter with a withering riposte. "Trump's ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times - not the 21st Century UN - unworthy of a reply. Fake empathy for Iranians fools no one," he posted.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom told the BBC it was "the wrong speech, at the wrong time, to the wrong audience". Shortly before Trump's speech, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to the General Assembly to avoid war with North Korea and offered pointed reminders about "stronger international co-operation." "Trust within and among countries is being driven down by those who demonise and divide," said the former prime minister of Portugal in a speech that included English, French and Spanish. "This is the time for statesmanship ... we must not sleepwalk our way into war." The UN Security Council has unanimously imposed nine rounds of sanctions on North Korea since 2006 and Guterres appealed for the 15-member body to maintain its unity on North Korea.

To Myanmar's government, Guterres issued a blunt directive. "The authorities in Myanmar must end the military operations and allow unhindered humanitarian access," he said. He added that he was encouraged by the remarks of Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday, but said Rohingya people who have fled their homes must be allowed to return home in dignity. On climate change, Guterres referred to the hurricanes that recently ravaged the United States and the Caribbean, and called for the world to step up its promises, made under the Paris climate agreement, to contain carbon emissions. "We know enough today to act," he said. "the science is unassailable." Loading

On the rights of refugees and migrants, he assailed what he called "closed doors and open hostility" and called on countries to treat those crossing borders with "simple decency and human compassion". Reuters, New York Times, PA