Donald Trump says North Korea 'fire and fury' warning was 'not tough enough'

US President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against North Korea last night, suggesting he had "not been tough enough" when he warned they faced "fire and fury". 

Mr Trump said the rogue regime should be "very, very nervous" about doing anything to the United States or its allies.

He said: "It's about time somebody stuck up for the people of this country and for the people of other countries. So if anything, maybe that statement wasn’t tough enough."

The president was vague about what further action his administration might take, telling reporters: "You’ll see. You’ll see."

Mr Trump added: “If North Korea does anything in terms of even thinking about attack of anybody that we love or we represent or our allies or us, they can be very, very nervous. Because things will happen to them like they never thought possible, OK? He’s been pushing the world around for a long time."

"North Korea better get their act together or they are going to be in trouble like few nations have ever been in trouble." Kim Jong-un's regime had earlier dismissed Mr Trump's warning as "nonsense."

Mr Trump, speaking at his golf course in New Jersey, responded: "I don't think they mean that. It's the first time they've heard it like they heard it. We'll always consider negotiations but they've been negotiating for 25 years."

Asked whether he would consider a pre-emptive strike, he said: "We'll see."

He also increased pressure on China to act to rein in North Korea, a strategy the Trump administration has long pursued. 

Mr Trump added: "I think China can do more, and I think they will."

His comments came hours after the US sent a Navy destroyer close to an artificial island Beijing has built up in the South China Sea. China's foreign ministry said the move had violated international and Chinese law, and seriously harmed Beijing's sovereignty and security.

The USS John S. McCain sailed close to Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands. A Chinese frigate sent radio warnings at least 10 times to during what the US called a six-hour "freedom of navigation" operation.

It was the third such operation it has carried out since Mr Trump took office.

Residents of the tiny US territory of Guam were warned last night they will have just 14 minutes warning if missiles are fired at them from North Korea.

North Korea has said it would have a plan ready by "mid -August" to fire four Hwasong-12 rockets into waters near the Pacific island, 2,100 miles to its south.

Jenna Gaminde, Guam's Homeland Security spokeswoman, said village mayors and social media would be used to spread warnings.

She added: "If you hear the sirens, tune into local media, radio, print, television for further instructions. Our office will be notified from the military and will utilise all forms of mass communication to get the message out to the public."

Experts said the 14 minutes would not be enough time for US commanders in Guam to assess if the missiles were fitted with warheads, or whether they might hit the island.

The US military would therefore probably try to shoot them down using its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, deployed to Guam in 2013, which would then risk a further escalation of the crisis.

“We would not want to take a chance to allow them to hit.” said David Maxwell, associate director of Georgetown University’s Center for Security Studies in Washington.

In announcing its plan North Korea said, if approved by leader Kim Jong-un, the missiles would land 30km or 40km off Guam, just outside US territorial waters.

In Japan experts expressed concerns over whether it had the technology to intercept North Korean missiles passing overhead on the way to Guam.

As bellicose rhetoric continued stock markets around the world fell.

Division also emerged in the White House as Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to the president, made comments about Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who has seemingly left open the idea of dialogue with North Korea.

Mr Gorka told the BBC's Today Programme: "You should listen to the president. The idea that Secretary Tillerson is going to discuss military matters is simply nonsensical.

"It is the job of Jim Mattis, the Secretary of Defence, to talk about the military options, and he has done so unequivocally."

Mr Gorka added: "North Korea has said they wish to annihilate the United States and use nuclear weapons. Sooner or later, someone should take them seriously. We will not give in to nuclear blackmail."

Mr Gorka told Fox News: "This nation, this White House, this president will no longer put up with appeasement."