North Korea is threatening to resume its own insults of US President Donald Trump and consider him a "dotard" if he keeps using words that provoke their leader Kim Jong Un.
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The country's first Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui made the comments after Trump spoke of a possible US military option toward North Korea and resumed calling Kim the "rocket man."
"If any language and expressions stoking the atmosphere of confrontation are used once again on purpose at a crucial moment as now, that must really be diagnosed as the relapse of the dotage of a dotard," she said.
Choe said on Thursday her ministry "cannot contain its displeasure" over Trump's comments.
Trump said on Tuesday he still had confidence in the North Korean leader but noted that Kim "likes sending rockets up".
"...That's why I call him Rocket Man," Trump told reporters at a NATO meeting in London.
Trump added that Washington could use military force. "If we have to, we'll do it."
On Wednesday, North Korea's army chief said he was disappointed by Trump's suggestion of using military force against Pyongyang, and warned that any strike would meet "prompt corresponding actions".
The development comes as prospects dim for a resumption of nuclear diplomacy between the two countries.
Australian Associated Press