The leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kim Jong-un, issued a fiery statement in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech before the United Nations.

Kim called Trump “a frightened dog,” “rogue” and “gangster” who will “pay dearly” for his remarks.

It’s the type of hostility Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi cautioned against during his U.N. General Assembly address.

CGTN’s Nathan King has more.

China’s foreign minister began his speech to the U.N. with a much brighter outlook for the world than some of his counterparts.

“We live in an era that is defined by a deepening trend of a multi polar world, the collective rise of emerging markets and developing countries, steady progress in globalization and IT application,” Yi said.  “And an exciting new round of revolution in science and technology in mankind’s pursuit of greater development and prosperity, there are great opportunities like never before.”

But Yi said the world was at a crossroads between war and peace, unity and disunity and urged for diplomacy between the DPRK and the U.S. over Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile testing.

“We urge the DPRK not to go further along a dangerous direction,” said Wang Yi.  “We call upon the U.S. to honor its formal commitment and we call upon all parties to play a constructive role in easing tensions. There is still hope for peace, and we must not give up.”

Wang Yi insisted the path to peace is not closed when it comes to the Korean issue – pointing out in 2005, the six-party talks yielded a plan that could have led to a lasting peace.

“Twelve years have passed. Some may think that things have changed on the peninsula and the joint statement has become outdated,” explained Yi.  “But we believe that things, following the progress of trends of the time, never become outdated, and decisions on the right side of history never become obsolete. If there is any change, anything we need now, it is denuclearization that is more comprehensive, more thorough and more irreversible.”

The foreign minister also used his speech to call for fresh thinking on the Palestinian situation and an international commitment to bring peace and reconstruction to Syria.

Wang Yi highlighted the U.N.’s ambitious development agenda and China’s central role in that process, both internationally with the One Belt One Road Initiative and domestically with China’s aim to become a ‘moderately prosperous society.’ 

They are targets that he said will be addressed fully at the upcoming 19th Party Congress in Beijing next month.