North Korea's top diplomat has called US President Donald Trump's speech to the UN "the sound of a barking dog".
An undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 21 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un visiting a fruit farm at Kwail-ŭp County. Photo: AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS
Speaking to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Mr Trump said he would "totally destroy" North Korea if it posed a threat to the US or its allies.
Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho's comments were North Korea's first official response to the speech.
The North has continued to develop its nuclear and weapons programmes, in defiance of a UN ban.
Photo: AFP
Mr Ri told reporters near the UN headquarters in New York:
"There is a saying that goes: 'Even when dogs bark, the parade goes on'.
"If [Trump] was thinking about surprising us with the sound of a barking dog then he is clearly dreaming."
Speaking about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Mr Trump had told the UN: "Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime."
When asked what he thought of Mr Trump calling Mr Kim "rocket man", Mr Ri responded: "I feel sorry for his aides."
Separately, on Thursday South Korea said it would send fresh humanitarian aid to the North for the first time in nearly two years.
The unification ministry in Seoul plans to provide $US8m (NZ$11m) through UN programmes aimed at children, pregnant women and improving medical supplies.
The decision comes days after the UN approved new sanctions against Pyongyang, restricting oil imports and banning textile exports - an attempt to starve the North of fuel and income for its weapons programmes.
- BBC