speaking to russia ’s state - run tass news agency , north korean foreign minister ri yong ho said his country ’s nuclear program guaranteed peace and safety in the region and would not be a matter of discussion .
north korea 's tass quoted ri as saying .
 
the words of ri yong ho are the latest episode of increasingly hostile barbs being traded between mr trump and the regime in pyongyang .
tensions between north korea and the united states have risen in recent weeks over pyongyang ’s nuclear weapons and missile programs .
during an address to the united nations general assembly in september , mr trump declared that the us would " totally destroy north korea " if forced
tensions between the us and north korea have intensified in recent months as the trump said .
during trump 's speech , he threatened to " totally destroy " north korea and denounced north korean leader kim jong un .
josh king has the story ( @abridgetoland ) buzz60 this oct. 7 , 2017 photo distributed by the north korean government shows north korean leader kim jong un speaking during a meeting of the central committee of the workers ' party of korea in pyongyang .