North Korea dismisses US threat: 'The sound of a dog barking'

North Korea’s foreign minister today dismissed US President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy his country as “the sound of a dog barking”.

The comments are the North’s first response to Mr Trump’s speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, during which he vowed to “totally destroy North Korea” if provoked.

Mr Trump also called North Korean leader Kim Jong-un “rocket man”.

Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho told reporters in New York that “it would be a dog’s dream if he intended to scare us with the sound of a dog barking”.

South Korean TV footage also showed Mr Ri saying he feels “sorry for his aides” when he was asked about Mr Trump’s “rocket man” comments.

North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test this month and most powerful nuclear test to date and fired a ballistic missile over Japan.

The rhetorical battle came as experts say North Korea is getting closer to achieving its long-stated goal of building nuclear-armed missiles capable of hitting anywhere on the US mainland.

Earlier this month, North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test to date and fired a ballistic missile over Japan.

The UN Security Council subsequently imposed fresh sanctions on North Korea, triggering a furious response from the North.

Meanwhile, Mr Kim appeared to be unruffled by the diplomatic crisis as an undated picture was released showing the leader picking apples during a visit to a fruit farm in South Hwanghae Province.