Vowing America would stand up for itself like never before, the US president vowed to tackle Kim’s hurried arms testing “head on”.
Mr Trump said the US had made an “unprecedented effort” to isolate dictator Kim’s regime in a bid to put a stop to the frenzied nuclear developments.
However, he said: “There is much more work to do. America and its allies will take all necessary steps to ensure denuclearisation and ensure that this regime cannot threaten the world.”
Mr Trump said: “This situation should have been taken care of long before I got into office, when it was much easier to handle. But it will be taken care of. We have no choice.”
The national security strategy document accompanying the speech, which sets out the US’ position in detail, defines North Korea as a “rogue regime” which is attempting to destabilise its own region.
It says: “North Korea—a country that starves its own people—has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons that could threaten our homeland.
“In addition, many actors have become skilled at operating below the threshold of military conflict—challenging the United States, our allies, and our partners with hostile actions cloaked in deniability.”
Mr Trump also labelled China and Russia “rival powers” in the landmark speech, outlining his administration’s national security strategy.
The Trump Administration’s criticism of Russia comes as a surprise after the president has appeared open to improved relations between the two states.
However the national security document based on his “America first” stance accuses Moscow of interfering in domestic political affairs in other countries.
The document claims Russia actively undermines American interests at home and abroad, although it stops short of saying Vladimir Putin meddled in the 2016 US election.
China and Russia were both called “revisionist powers” and blasted for their use of “technology, propaganda and coercion” to push their agendas.
The strategic document says: “They are determined to make economies less free and less fair, to grow their militaries, and to control information and data to repress their societies and expand their influence.”
China responded to the announcement, saying co-operation between the two countries would be a win-win situation, however confrontation would mean both lost out.
The Chinese embassy in Washington DC said it hoped the US would seek common ground with China, while respecting the fundamental differences between the two countries.