N Korea hints at H-bomb test in Pacific

seoul/new york, september 22

North Korea today hinted at testing a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean over US President Donald Trump recent threat to destroy the reclusive country. This came amid a volley of insults between the leaders of the two countries, with Kim Jong-un vowing to make “mentally deranged” Trump pay dearly for his threats and the US President warning the “madman” leader that he would be “tested like never before”.

Kim blasted Trump as a “mentally deranged US dotard” who will “pay dearly” for threatening to destroy North Korea. Kim did not specify what action he would take against the US or Trump, with whom he has traded insults in recent weeks. South Korea said it was the first direct statement of its kind by a North Korean leader.

However, Kim’s foreign minister Ri Yong Ho said in televised remarks North Korea could consider a hydrogen bomb test of an unprecedented scale over the Pacific Ocean. Ri, who was talking to reporters in New York ahead of a planned address later this week, also said he did not know Kim’s exact thoughts.

Japan, the only country ever to suffer an atomic attack, described the threat as “totally unacceptable”. A day after announcing additional sanctions on Pyongyang, Trump on Friday 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. Kim said,  “I will  definitely tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire.” — Agencies

 What’s a ‘dotard’?

   Kim Jong-un left a lot of English-speakers confused by calling US President a “dotard”. The obscure word is old — late Middle English, or around the 14th century - and means senile old person, someone in their dotage. Although, Shakespeare and Tolkien used it, it is barely heard these days. That may change, however, given the arrival on Friday of #dotard on Twitter