Hillary Clinton has branded Donald Trump’s speech to the UN “dark and dangerous” after the President threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea.

Mr Trump gave his first ever address to the body on Tuesday in a strident performance that crystallised his “America First” stance, while taking tough lines on the governments of North Korea, Iran and Venezuela.

He told delegates in New York: “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. Rocket man [Kim Jong-un] is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.

“The United States is ready, willing, and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary. That’s what the United Nations is all about. That’s what the United Nations is for. Let’s see how they do.”

Ms Clinton, the vanquished Democratic nominee for President in 2016 and former Secretary of State, told chat show host Stephen Colbert: “I thought it was very dark, dangerous, not the kind of message that the leader of the greatest nation in the world should be delivering.”

She added: “You are both required to stand up for the values of what we believe in—democracy and opportunity—as a way to demonstrate clearly the United States remains the beacon that we want it to be, while of course when you face dangerous situations, like what is happening in North Korea, to make it clear your first approach should always be diplomatic.

“What I’d hoped the President would have said was something along the lines of, ‘We view this as dangerous to our allies, to the region, and even to our countries. We call on all nations to work with us to try to end the threat posed by Kim Jong-un.’

“And not call him Rocket Man. You should lead with diplomacy.”

During his speech Mr Trump did, however, praise Russia and China for joining in the imposition of sanctions on Pyongyang and said it was “time for all nations to work together to isolate the Kim regime until it ceases its hostile behaviour”.

And on Wednesday morning, he tweeted in response to the clip: “After allowing North Korea to research and build Nukes while Secretary of State (Bill C also), Crooked Hillary now criticizes.”

He also retweeted a message from a supporter that said: “Obama and Clinton in effect gave nuclear weapons to North Korea by their policy of appeasement.”

Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Show all 22 1 /22 Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Donald Trump's international Presidential trips French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump talk as they leave the Army Museum at Les Invalides in Paris AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump arrive for the group photo at the G7 Taormina summit on the island of Sicily in May 2017 Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Mr Trump was pressed on the subject at the G7 summit in Italy Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump gives a speeech at the Warsaw Uprising Monument on Krasinski Square Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May during a ceremony at the NATO headquarters before the start of a summit in Brussels, Belgium Reuters Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Montenegro's Prime Minister Dusko Markovic is seen to the right of Donald Trump at a Nato summit in Brussels REUTERS Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Pope Francis meeting with US President Donald J. Trump EPA Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Pope Francis poses with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump arrives at Palazzo del Quirinale ahead of the meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella Ufficio Stampa Presidenza della via Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump is seen during a joint press conference with the Palestinian leader at the presidential palace in the West Bank city of Bethlehem AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas meets US President Donald Trump PPO via Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with US President Donald Trump prior to the President's departure GPO via Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after delivering a speech at the Israel Museum AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump lay a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance as White House senior advisor Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump watch on during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem accompanied by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu GPO via Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump takes his seat before his speech to the Arab Islamic American Summit in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia Reuters Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump look at a display of Saudi modern art at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud take part in a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips King Salman presents Donald Trump with The Collar of Abdulaziz al-Saud Medal at the Royal Court Palace on 20 May AP Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump is welcomed by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk on the South Lawn prior to their first foreign trip Getty Images

Mr Trump appeared use his speech, a clear enunciation of his “America First” policy, to signal the US would take a step back from global leadership. It would no longer pay to maintain the military and diplomatic influence it has wielded since the middle of the last century, he said.

“The United States will forever be a great friend to the world and especially to its allies. But we can no longer be taken advantage of or enter into a one-sided deal where the United States gets nothing in return,” Mr Trump said, calling for other countries to take responsibility in upholding “respect for law, respect for borders, and respect for culture”.

Mr Trump complained that the US “bears an unfair cost burden” in supporting the UN.

Trump: US will 'totally destroy' North Korea 'if forced to'

He continued: “For too long the American people were told that mammoth, multinational trade deals, unaccountable international tribunals, and powerful global bureaucracies were the best way to promote their success.

“But as those promises flowed, millions of jobs vanished and thousands of factories disappeared.

“Others gamed the system and broke the rules, and our great middle class, once the bedrock of American prosperity, was forgotten and left behind, but they are forgotten no more and they will never be forgotten again.

“While America will pursue cooperation and commerce with other nations, we are renewing our commitment to the first duty of every government, the duty of our citizens.