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| Trump Threatens to ‘Totally Destroy’ North Korea | Trump Threatens to ‘Totally Destroy’ North Korea |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| • Leaders from around the globe take the lectern at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. It’s a particularly big moment for President Trump, who addressed the world gathering for the first time. | • Leaders from around the globe take the lectern at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. It’s a particularly big moment for President Trump, who addressed the world gathering for the first time. |
| • Mr. Trump threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea and called Iran a “rogue nation.” | |
| • Secretary General António Guterres spoke about climate change, Myanmar and trust among nations. | |
| • Sign up for the Morning Briefing for United Nations news and a daily look at what you need to know to begin your day. | • Sign up for the Morning Briefing for United Nations news and a daily look at what you need to know to begin your day. |
| If the United States is forced to defend itself or its allies, “we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea,” President Trump told the gathering. | |
| In his address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, Mr. Trump denounced North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong-un, saying the nation “threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of life” as a result of its nuclear weapons program. | |
| “If the righteous many don’t confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph,” he said. | “If the righteous many don’t confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph,” he said. |
| Mr. Trump emphasized that it was against the interest of the entire world for North Korea — which he called a “band of criminals” — to obtain missiles and nuclear weapons. | Mr. Trump emphasized that it was against the interest of the entire world for North Korea — which he called a “band of criminals” — to obtain missiles and nuclear weapons. |
| “Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself,” he said of Mr. Kim. | “Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself,” he said of Mr. Kim. |
| Mr. Trump accused Mr. Kim of overseeing a regime that has starved its people, brutalized an imprisoned American college student who was returned home in a coma, and assassinated Mr. Kim’s older brother, a potential rival, with poison chemicals. | |
| “If this is not twisted enough, now North Korea’s reckless pursuit of missiles and nuclear weapons threatens the entire world,” Mr. Trump said. | |
| While he thanked Russia and China for supporting recent United Nations sanctions on North Korea, Mr. Trump also took an indirect swipe at them for continuing to do business with Mr. Kim. | |
| “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,” Mr. Trump said. | |
| The president said that America would act alone if needed. He emphasized an “America first” agenda, and said that while the United States would “forever be a great friend to the world and especially to its allies,” his primary responsibility was to Americans. | |
| “As president, I will always put America first, just like you as the leaders of your countries will always — and should always — put your countries first,” he said. — MEGAN SPECIA | |
| After condemning North Korea, Mr. Trump pivoted to the next “rogue nation” — Iran. | |
| He called the Iran nuclear deal “an embarrassment” and one of the worst that the United States has ever entered into. | |
| Mr. Trump has long portrayed Iran as a sponsor of terrorism and has suggested that the United States may abandon the 2015 deal negotiated by the Obama administration and five other major powers that limited Iran’s nuclear activities. So far Mr. Trump has grudgingly accepted the nuclear agreement despite having described it as a disgrace. | |
| The world’s nuclear inspectors recently declared that inspections found no evidence that Iran is breaching the agreement. A meeting of the parties that negotiated the deal with Iran — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States — will take place on the sidelines of the General Assembly on Wednesday. | |
| “It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran’s government end its pursuit of death and destruction,” Mr. Trump told the United Nations on Tuesday. | |
| Opening the General Assembly session, Secretary General António Guterres gravely warned about nuclear peril and climate change, and offered pointed reminders about “stronger international cooperation.” | Opening the General Assembly session, Secretary General António Guterres gravely warned about nuclear peril and climate change, and offered pointed reminders about “stronger international cooperation.” |
| “Trust within and among countries is being driven down by those who demonize and divide,” he said in a speech that included English, French and Spanish. | “Trust within and among countries is being driven down by those who demonize and divide,” he said in a speech that included English, French and Spanish. |
| President Trump could not be seen in the hall. | President Trump could not be seen in the hall. |
| To Myanmar’s government, Mr. Guterres issued a blunt directive. “The authorities in Myanmar must end the military operations and allow unhindered humanitarian access,” he said. | To Myanmar’s government, Mr. Guterres issued a blunt directive. “The authorities in Myanmar must end the military operations and allow unhindered humanitarian access,” he said. |
| He added that he was encouraged by the remarks of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday, but said that Rohingya people who have fled their homes must be allowed to return home in dignity. | He added that he was encouraged by the remarks of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday, but said that Rohingya people who have fled their homes must be allowed to return home in dignity. |
| On climate change, Mr. Guterres referred to the hurricanes that recently ravaged the United States and the Caribbean, and called for the world to step up its promises, made under the Paris climate agreement, to contain carbon emissions. | On climate change, Mr. Guterres referred to the hurricanes that recently ravaged the United States and the Caribbean, and called for the world to step up its promises, made under the Paris climate agreement, to contain carbon emissions. |
| “We know enough today to act,” he said. “the science is unassailable.” | “We know enough today to act,” he said. “the science is unassailable.” |
| On the rights of refugees and migrants, he assailed what he called “closed doors and open hostility” and called on countries to treat those crossing borders with “simple decency and human compassion.” — SOMINI SENGUPTA | On the rights of refugees and migrants, he assailed what he called “closed doors and open hostility” and called on countries to treat those crossing borders with “simple decency and human compassion.” — SOMINI SENGUPTA |
| In pinstripes, silk robes and sensible block-heeled shoes, diplomats and ministers, occasionally a head of state or government, crossed Manhattan’s First Avenue and queued up in front of the United Nations General Assembly building well before 8 a.m. on Tuesday. | In pinstripes, silk robes and sensible block-heeled shoes, diplomats and ministers, occasionally a head of state or government, crossed Manhattan’s First Avenue and queued up in front of the United Nations General Assembly building well before 8 a.m. on Tuesday. |
| The skies were gray. Dogwalkers and children headed to school competed for sidewalk space. | The skies were gray. Dogwalkers and children headed to school competed for sidewalk space. |
| Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway, fresh from an election victory, was one of the few leaders who walked. The Swedish and Finnish delegations followed closely. The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, walked in, but not his prime minister; he would arrive later in a motorcade. Terje Rod-Larsen, a Norwegian diplomat who led the Oslo peace accords, was already in the hall. | Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway, fresh from an election victory, was one of the few leaders who walked. The Swedish and Finnish delegations followed closely. The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, walked in, but not his prime minister; he would arrive later in a motorcade. Terje Rod-Larsen, a Norwegian diplomat who led the Oslo peace accords, was already in the hall. |
| By 8:45, the hall was filling up. The deputy permanent representative, Michele J. Sison, worked the room before President Trump’s arrival. His speech, due to begin around 10 a.m., is the most highly anticipated this year. | By 8:45, the hall was filling up. The deputy permanent representative, Michele J. Sison, worked the room before President Trump’s arrival. His speech, due to begin around 10 a.m., is the most highly anticipated this year. |
| The president once offered to renovate the General Assembly and took issue with the green marble at the podium. “The cheap 12 inch sq. marble tiles behind speaker at UN always bothered me. I will replace with beautiful large marble slabs if they ask me,” he tweeted in October 2012. | The president once offered to renovate the General Assembly and took issue with the green marble at the podium. “The cheap 12 inch sq. marble tiles behind speaker at UN always bothered me. I will replace with beautiful large marble slabs if they ask me,” he tweeted in October 2012. |
| They didn’t. | They didn’t. |
| The renovations were completed in 2015. The ashtrays on the long tables where the delegates sit were converted to audio speakers. | The renovations were completed in 2015. The ashtrays on the long tables where the delegates sit were converted to audio speakers. |
| Speakers are supposed to take no more than 15 minutes, a voluntary limit that has been notoriously violated. | Speakers are supposed to take no more than 15 minutes, a voluntary limit that has been notoriously violated. |
| The longest speech was Fidel Castro’s in 1960, at 4 hours and 29 minutes, which the Cuban leader began with these words: “Although we have been given the reputation of speaking at great length, the Assembly need not worry. We shall do our best to be brief, saying only what we regard it as our duty to say here.” | The longest speech was Fidel Castro’s in 1960, at 4 hours and 29 minutes, which the Cuban leader began with these words: “Although we have been given the reputation of speaking at great length, the Assembly need not worry. We shall do our best to be brief, saying only what we regard it as our duty to say here.” |
| The shortest speech, according to the United Nations Association-U.K., was one minute, in 1948, by Herbert Vere Evatt, foreign minister of Australia, who thanked the General Assembly for electing him president. — RICK GLADSTONE | The shortest speech, according to the United Nations Association-U.K., was one minute, in 1948, by Herbert Vere Evatt, foreign minister of Australia, who thanked the General Assembly for electing him president. — RICK GLADSTONE |
| Khrushchev’s shoe: In his 1960 General Assembly speech (the same year as Castro’s marathoner), the Soviet leader Nikita S. Khrushchev brandished a shoe as he expressed rage at the Philippine delegation for having accused the Kremlin of swallowing Eastern Europe. Whether Khrushchev actually banged the shoe on the podium — and whether it was even his shoe — has long been in dispute. | Khrushchev’s shoe: In his 1960 General Assembly speech (the same year as Castro’s marathoner), the Soviet leader Nikita S. Khrushchev brandished a shoe as he expressed rage at the Philippine delegation for having accused the Kremlin of swallowing Eastern Europe. Whether Khrushchev actually banged the shoe on the podium — and whether it was even his shoe — has long been in dispute. |
| Netanyahu’s bomb: In 2012, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel displayed a cartoonish drawing of a bomb to illustrate his belief that Iran could not be trusted in negotiations and was capable of quickly developing nuclear weapons. Critics ridiculed the prop, which also created confusion in Israel. — RICK GLADSTONE | Netanyahu’s bomb: In 2012, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel displayed a cartoonish drawing of a bomb to illustrate his belief that Iran could not be trusted in negotiations and was capable of quickly developing nuclear weapons. Critics ridiculed the prop, which also created confusion in Israel. — RICK GLADSTONE |
| Brazil has almost always been the first to speak at the General Assembly, a tradition traced to the early days of the United Nations and the Cold War. | Brazil has almost always been the first to speak at the General Assembly, a tradition traced to the early days of the United Nations and the Cold War. |
| According to Antonio Patriota, a former Brazilian ambassador to the United Nations, Brazil demonstrated deft diplomacy in presiding over the first few General Assembly debates. That, he said, convinced the two main powers — the United States and the Soviet Union — that Brazil should always speak first. The United States, the host country, has almost always gone second. | According to Antonio Patriota, a former Brazilian ambassador to the United Nations, Brazil demonstrated deft diplomacy in presiding over the first few General Assembly debates. That, he said, convinced the two main powers — the United States and the Soviet Union — that Brazil should always speak first. The United States, the host country, has almost always gone second. |
| There have been some notable exceptions. In 1983 and 1984, the United States went first and Brazil second. Last year, Chad went second because President Barack Obama was running late. — SOMINI SENGUPTA AND RICK GLADSTONE | There have been some notable exceptions. In 1983 and 1984, the United States went first and Brazil second. Last year, Chad went second because President Barack Obama was running late. — SOMINI SENGUPTA AND RICK GLADSTONE |
| In 2009, as Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi of Libya was making arrangements to speak at the General Assembly, he was desperate to find a property in the New York metropolitan area that would permit him to pitch his Bedouin tent. | In 2009, as Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi of Libya was making arrangements to speak at the General Assembly, he was desperate to find a property in the New York metropolitan area that would permit him to pitch his Bedouin tent. |
| Colonel Qaddafi finally thought he had a willing landlord: Donald J. Trump, who owned a property in Bedford, N.Y., that was a possibility. The prospect created a storm of opposition among officials in Westchester County, and shortly after the tent was erected, the Trump Organization ordered it dismantled. “Mr. Qaddafi will not be going to the property,” the organization said. — RICK GLADSTONE | Colonel Qaddafi finally thought he had a willing landlord: Donald J. Trump, who owned a property in Bedford, N.Y., that was a possibility. The prospect created a storm of opposition among officials in Westchester County, and shortly after the tent was erected, the Trump Organization ordered it dismantled. “Mr. Qaddafi will not be going to the property,” the organization said. — RICK GLADSTONE |
| President Trump said in his speech on Monday that no country should bear a disproportionate burden of keeping the world safe and sound — “that’s militarily and financially.” | President Trump said in his speech on Monday that no country should bear a disproportionate burden of keeping the world safe and sound — “that’s militarily and financially.” |
| So what does the United States shoulder at the United Nations? | So what does the United States shoulder at the United Nations? |
| Financially, Washington is the largest single contributor, paying 22 percent of the $5.4 billion core budget that keeps the lights on at the United Nations. That was calculated after a series of negotiations and based on the size of the American economy, the largest in the world. | Financially, Washington is the largest single contributor, paying 22 percent of the $5.4 billion core budget that keeps the lights on at the United Nations. That was calculated after a series of negotiations and based on the size of the American economy, the largest in the world. |
| The United States also pays a slightly larger share of the United Nations peacekeeping budget. The Trump administration’s envoy, Nikki R. Haley, succeeded this year in lowering the American share of peacekeeping costs to 25 percent from 28 percent. | The United States also pays a slightly larger share of the United Nations peacekeeping budget. The Trump administration’s envoy, Nikki R. Haley, succeeded this year in lowering the American share of peacekeeping costs to 25 percent from 28 percent. |
| Militarily, the United States shoulders virtually nothing. Of the roughly 97,000 soldiers and police officers serving on United Nations peacekeeping missions, 74 are American, according to figures released in June. | Militarily, the United States shoulders virtually nothing. Of the roughly 97,000 soldiers and police officers serving on United Nations peacekeeping missions, 74 are American, according to figures released in June. |
| The Trump administration has proposed significant cuts in funding for the State Department and for international organizations including the United Nations. A spokesman for the global body said the cuts would “simply make it impossible” for the United Nations to maintain essential operations, including hosting Syria peace talks, monitoring nuclear proliferation and immunizing children. | The Trump administration has proposed significant cuts in funding for the State Department and for international organizations including the United Nations. A spokesman for the global body said the cuts would “simply make it impossible” for the United Nations to maintain essential operations, including hosting Syria peace talks, monitoring nuclear proliferation and immunizing children. |
| Congress has pushed back a bit on Mr. Trump’s efforts to diminish American payments. For instance, the Senate appropriations committee approved a $10 million contribution to the United Nations body that oversees the implementation of an international agreement on climate change, even though the Trump administration plans to withdraw from it. | Congress has pushed back a bit on Mr. Trump’s efforts to diminish American payments. For instance, the Senate appropriations committee approved a $10 million contribution to the United Nations body that oversees the implementation of an international agreement on climate change, even though the Trump administration plans to withdraw from it. |
| The United States was already in arrears, owing about $270 million, according to the United Nations Foundation. The latest budget proposals from Capitol Hill, which include big cuts to peacekeeping, would add $230 million to those arrears, the foundation said. — SOMINI SENGUPTA | The United States was already in arrears, owing about $270 million, according to the United Nations Foundation. The latest budget proposals from Capitol Hill, which include big cuts to peacekeeping, would add $230 million to those arrears, the foundation said. — SOMINI SENGUPTA |
| In the New York Hilton ballroom where President Trump had held his election night victory party, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran hosted a dinner on Sunday for Iranian-Americans, a traditional part of his annual visit to the General Assembly. | In the New York Hilton ballroom where President Trump had held his election night victory party, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran hosted a dinner on Sunday for Iranian-Americans, a traditional part of his annual visit to the General Assembly. |
| Iran’s national colors — red, green and white — were projected from the ceiling. And the stage was lined with Iranian flags, behind a table where Mr. Rouhani sat alongside Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, and its ambassador to the United Nations, Gholamali Khoshroo. | Iran’s national colors — red, green and white — were projected from the ceiling. And the stage was lined with Iranian flags, behind a table where Mr. Rouhani sat alongside Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, and its ambassador to the United Nations, Gholamali Khoshroo. |
| Before Mr. Rouhani addressed the crowd, the Iranian delegation invited an Iranian-American woman from California to make a short speech. She was described as an activist who had helped Iranians in California vote in Iran’s election in May. | Before Mr. Rouhani addressed the crowd, the Iranian delegation invited an Iranian-American woman from California to make a short speech. She was described as an activist who had helped Iranians in California vote in Iran’s election in May. |
| “President Rouhani, will you allow women to enter soccer stadiums?” the woman asked in Persian, looking at Mr. Rouhani directly. Mr. Zarif responded by clapping. | “President Rouhani, will you allow women to enter soccer stadiums?” the woman asked in Persian, looking at Mr. Rouhani directly. Mr. Zarif responded by clapping. |
| She went on to say that Iranian women were resilient and did great things, citing as an example Maryam Mirzakhani, an Iranian-American who was the first and only female recipient of the Fields Medal, the most prestigious prize in mathematics. | She went on to say that Iranian women were resilient and did great things, citing as an example Maryam Mirzakhani, an Iranian-American who was the first and only female recipient of the Fields Medal, the most prestigious prize in mathematics. |
| For his part, Mr. Rouhani and his subordinates extolled Iranian-Americans as model immigrants, and they rebuked the Trump administration over its targeted travel ban, which restricts entry to the United States for citizens of six predominantly Muslim countries, including Iran. — NILO TABRIZY | For his part, Mr. Rouhani and his subordinates extolled Iranian-Americans as model immigrants, and they rebuked the Trump administration over its targeted travel ban, which restricts entry to the United States for citizens of six predominantly Muslim countries, including Iran. — NILO TABRIZY |
| As President Trump considers cutting the number of refugees allowed into the United States to the lowest level in decades, his administration is grappling with a new appraisal of what refugees add to the nation: tens of billions of dollars in taxes. | As President Trump considers cutting the number of refugees allowed into the United States to the lowest level in decades, his administration is grappling with a new appraisal of what refugees add to the nation: tens of billions of dollars in taxes. |
| One of the arguments for such a reduction is that refugees cost American taxpayers too much money. But a draft report commissioned by the administration found that refugees put a lot more money into government coffers than they take out: $63 billion from 2004 to 2014, according to the study, which was carried out by the Department of Health and Human Services and has been seen by The New York Times. | One of the arguments for such a reduction is that refugees cost American taxpayers too much money. But a draft report commissioned by the administration found that refugees put a lot more money into government coffers than they take out: $63 billion from 2004 to 2014, according to the study, which was carried out by the Department of Health and Human Services and has been seen by The New York Times. |
| The United Nations has repeatedly appealed to countries around the world to help resettle 1.2 million refugees fleeing war and persecution. — SOMINI SENGUPTA | The United Nations has repeatedly appealed to countries around the world to help resettle 1.2 million refugees fleeing war and persecution. — SOMINI SENGUPTA |