Trump's UN speech bags mixed reaction
Donald Trump's first major speech at the United Nations has been denounced by some of the member nations he singled out for criticism and gained praise from some of US allies.
The US president included Iran among "a small group of rogue regimes", and said the US would "totally destroy" North Korea if forced to do so.
Iran's foreign minister said: "Trump's ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times", and not the UN.
North Korea has yet to respond to the president's threat of destruction.
Washington has repeatedly warned North Korea over its weapons tests, which violate UN Security Council resolutions. On Tuesday, r Trump criticised North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, saying: "Rocket man is on a suicide mission." "If [the US] is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea," he added.
Reuters news agency said one audience member covered his face with his hands, and that loud, startled murmurs filled the hall in response.
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, who was observed crossing her arms, told the BBC: "It was the wrong speech, at the wrong time, to the wrong audience."
In his speech, he called the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into".
Trump also targeted Venezuela, calling its government a corrupt "socialist dictatorship" - and warned that the US was prepared to take action against it. Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza rejected what he called "threats".
But Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed Trump during his speech, saying the deal with Iran should be amended or scrapped altogether, and warned against the spread of Iranian influence in the Middle East.
South Korea praised the US leader's speech. US ally Japan, which Pyongyang often threatens to destroy, has taken a consistently hard line on North Korea, pushing for increased sanctions and pressure.
"We greatly appreciate President Trump's approach to changing North Korea's policy stance, denuclearising the country and calling on the international community, including China and Russia, for their cooperation toward strengthening pressure on North Korea," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.
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