Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says designating North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism is part of a push to continue "to turn the pressure up" on North Korea (Nov. 20) AP
Perhaps it's because President Trump took particular offense at being called "old" that North Korea has unleashed a new insult against him. It's called him — no surprise — "an old lunatic, mean trickster and human reject."
It is the latest jab in North Korea media since Sunday, continuing a personal slugfest between world leaders that has no precedent. Since he became president, Trump has lashed out at North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, referring to him as "little rocket man," "short and fat," a "madman" and threatened to wipe Kim and his country off the face of the earth if they attack the United States or its allies.
Kim and his propaganda arm have responded in kind, calling Trump a "mentally deranged dotard (senile person)," saying he deserved the death penalty, and vowing to annihilate the U.S. if it attacks North Korea.
Behind the over-the-top rhetoric is a deadly serious dispute over Kim's development of nuclear weapons capable of striking the U.S. mainland. Trump is determined to thwart Kim's nuclear ambitions and the North Korean leader appears equally determined to keep his nuclear arsenal to deter a U.S. attempt to overthrow him.
Here's a look at some of the bizarre language used by Trump and Kim:
'Lunatic' Trump
North Korean state media bashed Trump as an "old lunatic" offering a "load of rubbish" during his recent visit to South Korea, adding that Trump "insulted" Kim.
An editorial in the Minju Joson newspaper Sunday said, “A load of rubbish spouted by the old lunatic Trump during his recent visit to South Korea was a total of all nonsense and paradox so far let out by him against the (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea).”
In a speech Nov. 8 in South Korea, Trump had likened Kim to a cult leader.
“North Korea is a country ruled by a cult. At the center of this military cult is a deranged belief in the ruler’s destiny to rule as a parent protector over a conquered Korean Peninsula,” Trump said. “The more successful South Korea becomes the more successfully you discredit the dark fantasy at the heart of the North Korean regime.”
'Short and Fat'
Last week, Pyongyang's state media slammed Trump for insulting Kim while on his five country tour of Asia. It said the American president, who Kim has feuded with for months, deserves the death penalty.
"The worst crime for which (Trump) can never be pardoned is that he dared (to) malignantly hurt the dignity of the supreme leadership. He should know that he is just a hideous criminal sentenced to death by the Korean people," it said.
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The comments were published in an editorial in the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, a mouthpiece for Kim's ruling Workers' Party of Korea.
Trump clapped back by indirectly calling Kim "short and fat" in a tweet.
"Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me "old," when I would NEVER call him "short and fat?" Trump tweeted. "Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen!"
The barbs were no worse than Kim having called Trump a "mentally deranged dotard (senile person)" in September and Trump seething that Kim is a "madman."
'Rocket man'
Trump, known for giving nicknames to his enemies, dubbed Kim the "Rocket man" in September when North Korea launched a missile over Japan and claimed they had tested a miniaturized hydrogen bomb.
"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," Trump said in a major address to the United Nations on Sept. 23. "Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime."
'Fire and Fury'
After sanctions against North Korea were in place, North Korea said in a statement on Aug. 7: "The U.S.' villainous illegal actions against our country and people will be reciprocated by thousands-fold. If it thinks that it will be safe because it is across an ocean, there is no bigger misunderstanding than that."
The country then threatened the U.S. territory of Guam, leading Trump to lash out.
"North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States," he said on Aug. 8. Kim "has been very threatening beyond a normal state, and as I said they will be met with fire and fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before."
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