Kim Jong-un tells Trump he will 'pay dearly' as sanctions stepped up

Kim Jong-un has responded to Donald Trump's recent threats where the latter said he would "totally destroy" North Korea if the US or its allies were attacked.

In a rare statement attributed directly to Kim, he said that the "mentally deranged" Trump was "unfit to hold the prerogative of supreme command of a country," before going on to describe the President as "a rogue and a gangster fond of playing with fire."

Shortly after the statement was released on Friday, North Korea's foreign minister announced that Pyongyang had been making plans for a potential hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific Ocean in effort to fulfil Kim's vision of being able to take action of the "highest-level" against the US.

Kim Jong-un said Trump's comments were the "most ferocious declaration of a war in history" and said his ongoing rhetoric had "convinced me, rather than frightening or stopping me, that the path I chose is correct and that it is the one I have to follow to the last."

The leader also said he was "thinking hard" about how he intended to respond, but noted that Trump would "face results beyond his expectations."

Responding to the US President's new 'Rocket Man' nickname for him, Kim said "Now that Trump has […] insulted me and my country in front of the eyes of the world, we will consider with seriousness exercising of a corresponding, highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history."

Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho told reporters in New York that North Korea could be planning "the most powerful detonation of an H-bomb in the Pacific" in retaliation.

The statement followed an announcement on Thursday evening by the US President that revealed he had issued a new executive order that would expand US sanctions on North Korea.

China was reported to have shut down access to its banking system in North Korea, with Trump praising Chinese President Xi Jinping for what he called a "very bold" move.

"Our new executive order will cut off sources of revenue that fund North Korea's efforts to develop the deadliest weapons known to humankind," Trump said. "The order enhances the treasury department’s authorities to target any individual or entity that conducts significant trade in goods, services, or technology with North Korea."

The new measures would block any aircraft or ship from access to the US for 180 days after its last visit to North Korea, and would also apply to any vessel involved in "ship-to-ship" transfers with North Korean vessels.

"Foreign financial institutions must choose between doing business with the United States or facilitating trade with North Korea or its designated supporters," a statement released by the White House said.

"To prevent sanctions evasion, the order also includes measures designed to disrupt critical North Korean shipping and trade networks," he said. "For much too long, North Korea has been allowed to abuse the international financial system to facilitate funding for its nuclear weapons and missile programs."

Despite having a miniscule trade relation with Pyongyang, the EU also announced new sanctions against North Korea on Thursday that would see a ban against all investment and oil exports to the rogue nation.

"It is an outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a regime, but would arm, supply, and financially support a country that imperils the world with nuclear conflict," Trump said. "No nation on earth has an interest in seeing this band of criminals arm itself with nuclear weapons and missiles."