World War 3: North Korea threatens ‘MERCILESS PUNISHMENT’ for Trump as Asia trip kicks off

The latest comments from the reclusive communist state come as Donald Trump begins a 12 day trip to Asia which includes visiting South Korea and China.

Mr Trump kicks off his tour today in Japan before travelling to South Korea on Tuesday for a summit with President Moon Jae-in.

North Korea’s newspaper of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) the Rodong Sinmun published a comment piece that accused Mr Trump of “seriously stimulating” North Korea with his words.

The paper said Mr Trump must heed assertions from other US experts that he must “halt the reckless blackmail and take hands off the Korean affairs”.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) carried an English report of the article which stated: “Nobody can predict when Trump does a reckless act.

“The only and one way for checking his rash act is to tame him with absolute physical power.

“If the US misjudges (North Korea’s) toughest will and dares to act recklessly, the latter will be compelled to deal a resolute and merciless punishment upon the former with the mobilisation of all forces.

“The US has no energy to prevent it. Then its regret is too late.”

Mr Trump defended his tough rhetoric on North Korea after landing in Japan on Sunday.

Addressing the US troops at the US airbase in Kyota, he said: “No one, no dictator, no regime should underestimate American resolve.”

Regarding the US policy on Pyongyang, Mr Trump said: “There’s been 25 years of total weakness and so we’re taking a very much different approach.”

The threat comes after Trump threatened to rain “fire and fury” down on North Korea if the DPRK did not stop threatening the US.

North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong-un has previously said he would wipe the US “off the face of the earth” following months of missile and nuclear tests.

It comes as experts warn North Korea could blow up a nuclear device or fire a ballistic missile during the tour.

White House officials and Asian leaders are concerned that North Korea may attempt to disrupt President Donald Trump’s trip to Asia by conducting a missile test — or even a far more shocking atmospheric nuclear test.

The feared nuclear explosion could be visible to the US President as he tours Japan and South Korea in a defiant show of strength.

South Korean intelligence has detected activity at a North Korean missile facility that would be consistent with a coming test launch, South Korea’s Yonhap News agency reported earlier this week.