On Saturday, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho addressed the general debate of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

His speech came days after U.S. President Donald J. Trump used the same platform to threaten to “totally destroy” North Korea should the United States need to defend itself or its allies.

Ri’s address also comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un released an unusual statement through North Korea’s state-run media, addressing Trump’s remarks in the first-person and threatening to “tame” the U.S. leader.

The foreign minister’s address was a rebuttal of sorts to Trump’s address, defending North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Ri told world leaders that his country was “only a few steps away from the final gate of completion of the state’s nuclear force.”

Rebuking recent sanctions resolutions at the United Nations Security Council, he added that there was no “chance that North Korea would be shaken an inch or change its stance due to the harsher sanctions by the hostile forces.”

Turning to Trump, Ri used the U.S. president’s own words to criticize him. Where Trump had said Kim Jong-un was on a “suicide mission,” Ri instead alleged that it was Trump who was on a “suicide mission.”

“Due to his lacking of basic common knowledge and proper sentiment, he tried to insult the supreme dignity of my country by referring it to a rocket,” Ri said. “By doing so however, he committed an irreversible mistake of making our rocket’s visit to the entire U.S. mainland inevitable all the more,” he added.

“Trump might not have been aware what is uttered from his mouth, but we will make sure that he bears consequences far beyond his words, far beyond the scope of what he can handle even if he is ready to do so,” Ri added.

“The U.S. claims that the DPRK’s possession of H-bomb and ICBM constitutes a global threat, even at the U.N. arena,” Ri continued.

“But such claim is (sic) a big lie which is just tantamount to the notorious big lie faked up by the U.S. in 2003 about the existence of weapons in Iraq of weapons of mass destruction in order to invade that country.”

Ri additionally defended North Korea’s nuclear status by claiming it was a “responsible” nuclear state and that it did not seek the approval or recognition of its nuclear status by any country.

Following his address, Ri met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who expressed concern “over the tensions on the Korean Peninsula and appealed for de-escalation and full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions,” according to a UN statement. </s> North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho is addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York Saturday, after a week of fiery barbs traded between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has stoked tensions over North Korea’s nuclear program.

Moments before Ri was set to speak, U.S. Air Force bombers flew in international airspace east of North Korea. The Pentagon said it’s the furthest north any U.S. fighters have flown in the 21st Century.

The speech comes after Ri threatened to test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific, and Mr. Trump issued an executive order targeting countries that trade with North Korea. At a Friday night rally for Republican U.S. Senate contender Luther Strange in Alabama, Mr. Trump derided “little rocket man” — his new favorite term for Kim — and emphasized that North Korea would be dealt with. Earlier in the day, the president tweeted that he Kim is a “madman” who will be “tested like never before.” In Mr. Trump’s speech to the U.N. this week, the president said he would “totally destroy” North Korea if the U.S. is “forced to defend itself” or any allies.

Kim, in a rare statement earlier this week, called the president “mentally deranged” and a “dotard,” pledging to strike as needed.

“Whatever Trump might have expected, he will face results beyond his expectation,” Kim said in the statement. “I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire.”

Follow below for live updates from the North Korean foreign minister’s speech.

2:46 p.m. Ri ends his speech, to applause from the North Korean delegation

The handful of members of the North Korea delegation offered their applause as Ri walked off stage, uneventfully.

2:44 p.m.: It’s foolish to think “barbaric” sanctions will deter North Korea, Ri says

Although the U.N. and U.S. have imposed tougher sanctions on North Korea and its trading partners, Ri said that won’t matter. North Korea is close to completing its nuclear weapons program, he said.

2:41 p.m.: Ri says North Korea doesn’t intend to threaten countries that don’t join U.S.

Ri said countries that don’t join the U.S. in its nuclear attempts have no reason to worry.

Ri said North Korea isn’t eager to use its nuclear weapons capabilities, comparing the current situation to the “weapons of mass destruction” claims former President George W. Bush made to justify engaging in the Middle East.

2:34 p.m.: Ri says U.S. should “think twice” before threatening DPRK

Ri said “hopefully” nuclear power won’t be necessary, and that’s not their “first option.” But Ri said U.S. and its allies should “think twice” before threatening North Korea.

2:33 p.m.: Ri says DPRK has entered a phase of completing its nuclear force

Ri says North Korea has nearly completed its nuclear weapons goals, including a hydrogen bomb. Ri said the weapons are intended to be a “war deterrent”

2:31 p.m.: Ri says the U.S. is the real threat

“The very reason the DPRK had to possess nuclear weapons is because of the U.S.,” Ri said.

2:27 p.m.: Ri: “None other than Trump is on a suicide mission”

Ri said Trump will pay “dearly” for his speech.

“Trump might not be aware what is uttered from his mouth,” Ri said, adding North Korea will be “sure” he pays.

2:25 p.m.: Ri says Trump “tainted” U.N. with his comments

Ri said he feels compelled to respond to comments from Mr. Trump, saying he poses a threat to international security.

“Due to his lacking of basic common knowledge and proper sentiment, he tried to insult the supreme dignity of my country by referring it to a rocket,” Ri said.

Ri said Trump is, “mentally deranged and full of megalomania.” </s> NEW YORK (CBSNews) — North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said President Trump is the only person “on a suicide mission,” one that is making “our rocket’s visit to the entire U.S. mainland inevitable all the more.”

In a fiery speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York Saturday (Sept. 23), Ri responded to a string of threats from Mr. Trump throughout the week — particularly Mr. Trump’s threat to “totally destroy” North Korea if the U.S. is “forced to defend itself or its allies.” Mr. Trump has said “rocket man” Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s leader, is on a “suicide mission,” but Ri said “none other than Trump himself is on a suicide mission.”

“Due to his lacking of basic common knowledge and proper sentiment, he tried to insult the supreme dignity of my country by referring it to a rocket,” Ri said. “By doing so however, he committed an irreversible mistake of making our rocket’s visit to the entire U.S. mainland inevitable all the more.”

Ri also called the president a “mentally deranged person full of megalomania,” reflecting comments from Kim earlier this week, when Kim called Mr. Trump a “mentally deranged U.S. dotard.”

The North Korean diplomat claimed the North Korean regime possesses a hydrogen bomb that can be coupled with an intercontinental ballistic missile, and is prepared to use its latest technology if needed. Ri on Friday threatened to test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

“Trump might not have been aware what is uttered from his mouth, but we will make sure that he bears consequences far beyond his words, far beyond the scope of what he can handle even if he is ready to do so,” Ri said.

Ri insisted it is the U.S., not North Korea, that poses an international threat.

“The U.S. claims that the DPRK’s possession of H-bomb and ICBM constitutes a global threat, even at the U.N. arena,” Ri said, using the acronym for the country. “But such claim is a big lie which is just tantamount to the notorious big lie faked up by the U.S. in 2003 about the existence of weapons in Iraq of weapons of mass destruction in order to invade that country.”

Ri tried to argue that nuclear muscle power isn’t the DPRK’s first option. North Korea, he said, also only intends to target countries that join forces with the U.S.

“The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a responsible nuclear weapons state,” Ri said. “We will take preventative measures by merciless preemptive action unless the U.S. and its vessel forces show any sign of operating a decapitating operation on our headquarters or military attack against our country. However, we do not have any intention at all to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against the countries that do not join in the U.S.military actions against the DPRK.”

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres met with Ri after his speech, and expressed concern over tensions in the North Korean Peninsula, CBS News’ Pamela Falk reports, citing a readout of their conversation. Guterres asked for deescalation, and for the DPRK to implement all of the U.N. Security Council’s resolutions. Guterres emphasized the need for a political solution, and for continued humanitarian aid to North Korea.

Moments before Ri was set to speak, U.S. Air Force bombers flew in international airspace east of North Korea. The Pentagon said it’s the furthest north any U.S. fighters have flown in the 21st Century.

Mr. Trump has only escalated his comments about North Korea this week.

On Friday, Mr. Trump issued an executive order targeting countries that trade with North Korea. At a Friday night rally for Republican U.S. Senate contender Luther Strange in Alabama, Mr. Trump derided “little rocket man” — his new favorite term for Kim — and emphasized that North Korea would be dealt with. Earlier in the day, the president tweeted that he Kim is a “madman” who will be “tested like never before.” </s> (CBSNEWS) – North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said President Trump is the only person “on a suicide mission,” one that is making “our rocket’s visit to the entire U.S. mainland inevitable all the more.”

In a fiery speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York Saturday, Ri responded to a string of threats from Mr. Trump throughout the week — particularly Mr. Trump’s threat to “totally destroy” North Korea if the U.S. is “forced to defend itself or its allies.” Mr. Trump has said “rocket man” Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s leader, is on a “suicide mission,” but Ri said “none other than Trump himself is on a suicide mission.”

“Due to his lacking of basic common knowledge and proper sentiment, he tried to insult the supreme dignity of my country by referring it to a rocket,” Ri said. “By doing so however, he committed an irreversible mistake of making our rocket’s visit to the entire U.S. mainland inevitable all the more.”

Ri also called the president a “mentally deranged person full of megalomania,” reflecting comments from Kim earlier this week, when Kim called Mr. Trump a “mentally deranged U.S. dotard.”

The North Korean diplomat claimed the North Korean regime possesses a hydrogen bomb that can be coupled with an intercontinental ballistic missile, and is prepared to use its latest technology if needed. Ri on Friday threatened to test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

“Trump might not have been aware what is uttered from his mouth, but we will make sure that he bears consequences far beyond his words, far beyond the scope of what he can handle even if he is ready to do so,” Ri said.

Ri insisted it is the U.S., not North Korea, that poses an international threat. </s> North Korea´s Foreign Minister has said that Donald Trump's threatening rhetoric has made military strikes against the US 'inevitable.'

Addressing the United Nations on Saturday (23 September) in a strongly worded speech Ri Yong Ho said the US President 'irreversible mistake' when he mocked Kim Jong-un, calling him mad and dubbing him the 'rocket man.'

Describing the US President as "a mentally deranged person full of megalomania and complacency" Ri Yong Ho said that Trump's insulting remarks had made 'our rockets' visit to the entire U.S. mainland inevitable'.

"Due to his lacking of basic common knowledge and proper sentiment, he tried to insult the supreme dignity of my country by referring (to it as) a 'rocket,' " Ri Yong Ho explained.

"By doing so, however, he committed an irreversible mistake of making our rockets' visit to the entire U.S. mainland inevitable all the more. Through such a prolonged and arduous struggle, now we are finally only a few steps away from the final gate of completion of the state nuclear force."

Sky News reports that Ri Yong Ho further warned that North Korea would retaliate with equal force.

"Unless true international justice is realized, the only valid philosophical principal is that force must be dealt with force," he warned.

His comments came as a fleet of U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers flew into the demilitarised zone between the Koreas in a display of force designed to demonstrate "the military options available to President Trump.

The two leaders have been trading barbs amid tensions over North Korea's nuclear programme after Kim described Trump as "a mentally deranged US dotard."

The President responded saying the North Korean dictator was on a suicide mission.

"Kim Jong Un of North Korea, who is obviously a madman who doesn't mind starving or killing his people, will be tested like never before!" he tweeted.

Ri Yong Ho condemned the US president's remarks and warned there would be serious consequences for Trump's aggressive rhetoric: "None other than Trump himself is on a suicide mission," he said, adding that the US President may not realize what he "uttered from his mouth, but we will make sure that he bears consequences far beyond his words."

He added: "In case innocent lives of the US are harmed ... Trump will be totally responsible."

Russia and China have attempted to mediate between the two leaders urging the US to 'exercise restraint'. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rebuked them saying their war of words was akin to 'a kindergarten fight between children" adding that the nuclear-missile gambles" being played by Pyongyang and US are heightening tensions in the Korean peninsula.

Fearing that North Korea might now carry out its threat to detonate a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said: "'The situation on the Korean Peninsula now is grave." </s> (SINGAPORE) — The North Korean foreign minister has shot back at the U.S. over its warning to other countries against violating international sanctions on North Korea, saying recent moves by the U.S. are “alarming.”

Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said at a Southeast Asian regional forum in Singapore on Saturday that the U.S. “is raising its voice louder for maintaining the sanctions against” North Korea.

Ri said that while North Korea has “initiated goodwill measures” including a “moratorium on the nuclear test and rocket launch test and dismantling of nuclear test ground,” the U.S. has gone “back to the old, far from its leader’s intention.”

He made the remarks in a speech that came after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was at the same conference, warned Russia, China and others against any violation of international sanctions on North Korea. </s> North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said President Trump is the only person "on a suicide mission," one that is making "our rocket's visit to the entire U.S. mainland inevitable all the more."

In a fiery speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York Saturday, Ri responded to a string of threats from Mr. Trump throughout the week -- particularly Mr. Trump's threat to "totally destroy" North Korea if the U.S. is "forced to defend itself or its allies." Mr. Trump has said "rocket man" Kim Jong-un, North Korea's leader, is on a "suicide mission," but Ri said "none other than Trump himself is on a suicide mission."

"Due to his lacking of basic common knowledge and proper sentiment, he tried to insult the supreme dignity of my country by referring it to a rocket," Ri said. "By doing so however, he committed an irreversible mistake of making our rocket's visit to the entire U.S. mainland inevitable all the more."

Will North Korea test a hydrogen bomb?

Ri also called the president a "mentally deranged person full of megalomania," reflecting comments from Kim earlier this week, when Kim called Mr. Trump a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard."

The North Korean diplomat claimed the North Korean regime possesses a hydrogen bomb that can be coupled with an intercontinental ballistic missile, and is prepared to use its latest technology if needed. Ri on Friday threatened to test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

"Trump might not have been aware what is uttered from his mouth, but we will make sure that he bears consequences far beyond his words, far beyond the scope of what he can handle even if he is ready to do so," Ri said.

Ri insisted it is the U.S., not North Korea, that poses an international threat.

"The U.S. claims that the DPRK's possession of H-bomb and ICBM constitutes a global threat, even at the U.N. arena," Ri said, using the acronym for the country. "But such claim is a big lie which is just tantamount to the notorious big lie faked up by the U.S. in 2003 about the existence of weapons in Iraq of weapons of mass destruction in order to invade that country."

Ri tried to argue that nuclear muscle power isn't the DPRK's first option. North Korea, he said, also only intends to target countries that join forces with the U.S.

"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a responsible nuclear weapons state," Ri said. "We will take preventative measures by merciless preemptive action unless the U.S. and its vessel forces show any sign of operating a decapitating operation on our headquarters or military attack against our country. However, we do not have any intention at all to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against the countries that do not join in the U.S.military actions against the DPRK."

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres met with Ri after his speech, and expressed concern over tensions in the North Korean Peninsula, CBS News' Pamela Falk reports, citing a readout of their conversation. Guterres asked for deescalation, and for the DPRK to implement all of the U.N. Security Council's resolutions. Guterres emphasized the need for a political solution, and for continued humanitarian aid to North Korea.

Moments before Ri was set to speak, U.S. Air Force bombers flew in international airspace east of North Korea. The Pentagon said it's the furthest north any U.S. fighters have flown in the 21st Century.

Mr. Trump has only escalated his comments about North Korea this week.

On Friday, Mr. Trump issued an executive order targeting countries that trade with North Korea. At a Friday night rally for Republican U.S. Senate contender Luther Strange in Alabama, Mr. Trump derided "little rocket man" -- his new favorite term for Kim -- and emphasized that North Korea would be dealt with. Earlier in the day, the president tweeted that he Kim is a "madman" who will be "tested like never before."

Follow below for live updates from the speech earlier.

2:46 p.m. Ri ends his speech, to applause from the North Korean delegation

The handful of members of the North Korea delegation offered their applause as Ri walked off stage, uneventfully.

2:44 p.m.: It's foolish to think "barbaric" sanctions will deter North Korea, Ri says

Although the U.N. and U.S. have imposed tougher sanctions on North Korea and its trading partners, Ri said that won't matter. North Korea is close to completing its nuclear weapons program, he said.

2:41 p.m.: Ri says North Korea doesn't intend to threaten countries that don't join U.S.

Ri said countries that don't join the U.S. in its nuclear attempts have no reason to worry.

2:40 p.m.: Ri says North Korea is a "responsible" weapons state

Ri said North Korea isn't eager to use its nuclear weapons capabilities, comparing the current situation to the "weapons of mass destruction" claims former President George W. Bush made to justify engaging in the Middle East.

2:34 p.m.: Ri says U.S. should "think twice" before threatening DPRK

Ri said "hopefully" nuclear power won't be necessary, and that's not their "first option." But Ri said U.S. and its allies should "think twice" before threatening North Korea.

2:33 p.m.: Ri says DPRK has entered a phase of completing its nuclear force

Ri says North Korea has nearly completed its nuclear weapons goals, including a hydrogen bomb. Ri said the weapons are intended to be a "war deterrent"

2:31 p.m.: Ri says the U.S. is the real threat

"The very reason the DPRK had to possess nuclear weapons is because of the U.S.," Ri said.

2:27 p.m.: Ri: "None other than Trump is on a suicide mission"

Ri said Trump will pay "dearly" for his speech.

"Trump might not be aware what is uttered from his mouth," Ri said, adding North Korea will be "sure" he pays.

2:25 p.m.: Ri says Trump "tainted" U.N. with his comments

Ri said he feels compelled to respond to comments from Mr. Trump, saying he poses a threat to international security.

"Due to his lacking of basic common knowledge and proper sentiment, he tried to insult the supreme dignity of my country by referring it to a rocket," Ri said.

Ri said Trump is, "mentally deranged and full of megalomania." </s> North Korea foreign minister Ri Yong Ho criticizes the United States for urging pressure on sanctions against Pyongyang after UN report on continued nuclear activities

SINGAPORE, Singapore – North Korea's foreign minister Saturday, August 4 criticized the US for urging that sanctions be maintained against Pyongyang, after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked the international community to keep up pressure against the reclusive regime.

Despite "goodwill measures" taken by the North, Washington was "raising its voice louder for maintaining the sanctions against the DPRK," the North's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told a security forum in Singapore, according to a statement. DPRK are the initials of the North's official name. –Rappler.com </s> Over the past few days, one man has emerged as the international face of the North Korean regime: Ri Yong-ho.

As the brickbats continued to fly between Washington and Pyongyang at the weekend, the North Korean foreign minister threatened to upstage his country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, with a mixture of trademark rhetoric and humour at the UN general assembly in New York.

Ri took to the podium to deliver a fiery speech on behalf of Kim, who has not set out foot outside of North Korea since he became leader in late 2011.

In a rebuke to Donald Trump’s threat to “totally destroy” North Korea if it attacked the US or its allies, he told the hall that it was now “all the more inevitable” that the regime’s rockets would “visit” the US mainland. Borrowing the US president’s own words, Ri added that it was the Trump, not Kim, who was on a suicide mission.

In a brief encounter with journalists on his arrival in New York last week, Ri ridiculed Trump and showed flashes of humour.

He likened Trump’s threat to destroy North Korea to the “sound of a dog barking”, and when asked for his opinion of the president’s “rocket man” nickname for Kim, simply replied: “I feel sorry for his aides.” On Saturday, he referred to Trump as “President Evil”.

It was the second time in several days that Ri – not to be confused with a former senior army official of the same name who was reportedly purged in 2012 – had generated headlines around the world.

Although he has been foreign minister for little over a year, his role is quickly coming to resemble that of Saddam Hussein’s mouthpiece during both Gulf wars, Tariq Aziz.

Like Aziz, Ri is highly visible – at least by North Korean standards – and is trusted to do his leader’s bidding on an almost entirely hostile diplomatic stage.

Ri’s assured demeanour in New York can be attributed to a career spent at the heart of the North Korean political elite and almost two decades of dealing with the US, the UN and South Korea.

Despite his penchant for the kind of bellicose language usually associated with North Korea’s propaganda machine, Ri cut his cloth as a diplomat rather than as a provocateur.

He was involved in North Korea’s ill-fated negotiations with the US over its nuclear weapons programme in the mid-1990s. Later, he was chief negotiator for North Korea during six-party denuclearisation talks that have been stalled for almost a decade.

It is hard to imagine any North Korean government official better placed to steer his country through the current crisis, particularly given his close ties to Kim.

Ri, who is thought to be in his early 60s, has held several senior diplomatic posts, including as ambassador to Britain from 2003-07, and has travelled on missions to the US and Asia, according to North Korea Leadership Watch.

As recently as last month, he met foreign ministers of South Korea, Russia and China – but not Japan or the US – on the sidelines of the Asean Regional Forum in Manila.

Ri was destined to play a key role in the dynastic regime that has ruled North Korea for almost 70 years.

He is the the son of Ri Myong-je, a former editor of the state KCNA news agency who also served as deputy chief of staff to Kim Jong-il. He attended the elite Namsan senior middle school and studied English at Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies.

In 2000, Ri accompanied Jo Myong-rok, who was then first vice-chairman of North Korea’s National Defence Commission, on a trip to the US, where he met Bill Clinton and the US secretary of state, Madeleine Albright.

Having personally contributed to raising diplomatic tensions over the past week, could Ri also be the person to help defuse the crisis?

Writing in the Atlantic last week, Joel S Wit, a senior fellow at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, suggested that a meeting between Ri and the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, could break the “counterproductive cycle of escalation” between Washington and Pyongyang.

“Ri is not a typical communist bureaucrat,” Wit wrote. “He has impressive diplomatic skills. Smart, thoughtful, and articulate, he is a careful listener who often asks perceptive questions and chooses his responses with care. He can be both reasonable in trying to understand the other country’s point of view and tough in defending North Korea’s interests. Moreover, he is clearly ‘connected’.”
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho, at the United Nations General Assembly, says his country targeting the U.S. mainland is becoming more likely given the U.S. President's escalating rhetoric over their military programs. After this speech, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres met with Ri to express his concern with this situation.