Over the last week, tension has increased between the United States and North Korea. While Donald Trump has lashed out at the country on his Twitter account, a high-ranking official under Kim Jong-un is speaking out.
Trump's Twitter trouble
Ever since the early days of his campaign for president, Donald Trump used social media as a way to bypass the mainstream news media in an attempt to push his agenda and reach his supporters and potential voters. While Trump was successful in the sense that he was able to lock up the Republican nomination and eventually the White House, it didn't come without criticism from many over his constant use of Twitter.
The former host of "The Apprentice" has often come under fire for lashing out on his social media accounts over a variety of issues, including, but not limited to celebrity critics, his Democratic opposition, members of his own Republican Party, and even several world leaders. In recent weeks, global affairs have dominated Trump's administration, which started after the president decided to launch an attack on a Syrian airbase in retaliation to Bashar al-Assad's chemical attack on civilians earlier this month. The reaction was mixed, which included North Korea pushing back, using it as an excuse to continue their nuclear program. As reported by the Associated Press (AP) on April 14, the country is not pleased with how Trump has handled recent events.
BREAKING: North Korea's vice foreign minister tells the AP it will conduct next nuclear test whenever supreme headquarters sees fit.
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 14, 2017
On Thursday, NBC News reported that the United States was set to launch a preemptive strike against North Korea if the country went forward with their plans of a Nuclear Weapons Test.
NBC News cited several senior United States intelligence officials, and noted that a nuclear test could take place as soon as next week. The White House, however, pushed back at the report, labeling it "wildly wrong" and "crazy.
BREAKING: North Korea's vice foreign minister says President Trump is "making trouble" with "aggressive" tweets.
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 14, 2017
Despite this, the AP reported late Thursday night that North Korea was speaking out against Donald Trump, appearing to send a threat and a warning over the president's Twitter use and the country's plans at a nuclear weapons test.
"Vice foreign minister tells the AP it will conduct next nuclear test whenever supreme headquarters sees fit," the AP tweeted out. In a follow-up message, a cryptic threat was directed at the billionaire real estate mogul. "Vice foreign minister says President Trump is 'making trouble' with 'aggressive' tweets," the report points out.
US prepared to launch preemptive strike if North Korea goes forward with nuclear test: report https://t.co/G7jI2YrL9e pic.twitter.com/FirqZDlH8b
— The Hill (@thehill) April 14, 2017
Moving forward
As of press time, it's unknown what the next step will be regarding the United States, the nation's rivals, and the issue of nuclear weapons and testing. Earlier this week, Donald Trump targeted the nation in question on Twitter, labeling North Korea a "menace" and claiming they were "looking for trouble."
