Donald Trump’s tweet that Kim Jong Un “won’t be around much longer” was a declaration of war, North Korea has said.
Ri Yong Ho, the rogue state’s foreign minister, said the US President’s message gives the rogue state “every right” to shoot down US bombers.
Speaking in New York, the country’s top diplomat said this applied even when the bombers were not in North Korean airspace.
The world "should clearly remember" it was the US that first declared war, Mr Ri said.
Mr Ri’s comments came after the US leader tweeted: "Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!"
The North Korea foreign minister's response came as he was leaving New York following the UN General Assembly.
North Korea has continued to carry out nuclear and ballistic missile tests in recent weeks, in defiance of successive rounds of UN sanctions.
The country's leaders say nuclear capabilities are its only deterrent against an outside world seeking to destroy it.
The UN Security Council approved new sanctions on the country after the North's latest and most powerful nuclear test this month.
