US President Donald Trump threatened to “destroy” North Korea if Pyongyang continues its nuclear programme, during his maiden speech at the United Nations this week.
The remarks were met with fury from Kim Jong-un who made a rare broadcast appearance, where he branded Mr Trump a “dotard” and “frightened dog”.
Kim Jong-un said: “Far from making remarks of any persuasive power that can be viewed to be helpful to defusing tension, he made unprecedented rude nonsense one has never heard from any of his predecessors. A frightened dog barks louder.”
The back and forth exchange of insults continued on Friday when Mr Trump tweeted: “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!”
But underneath the playground-level abuse, is a genuine concern that the leaders fiery words could escalate into nuclear action.
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Will Kim Jong-un go to war with Donald Trump?
Kim Jong-un made it clear in his KCNA state news agency broadcast he was considering the “highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history” against the US.
The dictator warned: “I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire.”
Jeffrey Lewis, Director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program, thinks this could be a sign Kim Jong-un thinks he has Mr Trump on the ropes.
The North Korea expert told Express.co.uk: “I think the most important part of the statement is the one about the frightened dog barking loudest.
“This was the same view that the Chinese had – that the US makes so many nuclear threats because Americans are afraid of nuclear weapons.
“I think Donald Trump‘s reactions are being read by the North Koreans as weakness and indecision.”
The US and North Korea have been locked in a tense stand off since the end of the Korean War in 1953.
Ever since North Korea has pursued its nuclear ambitions in a bid to elevate its position on the international arena.
A 2014 US defence report said: “North Korea’s pursuit of a ‘military first policy’ demonstrates its view that ultimately the national security of North Korea is disproportionately dependent on military might in the absence of any other notable elements of national power.
“The DPRK seeks recognition as an equal and legitimate international player and as a recognised nuclear power that is eventually able to normalise its diplomatic relations with the Western world and pursue economic recovery and prosperity.”
For North Korea, the regime’s survival is a “zero-sum competition”, and war with a powerhouse like the US would work against its own interests.