North Korea Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho has warned that his country will take "merciless preventive action" if the United States shows any sign of a decapitating operation on the North Korean leadership or military attack against the North.

Ri issued the threat on Saturday in his keynote speech at the United Nations General Assembly, saying that the North has no intent to use its nuclear weapons on countries which do not join the U.S. military action against the North.

North Korea’s top diplomat also said that they will make sure U.S. President Donald Trump will pay for his remarks against Pyongyang.

In his address to the UN on Tuesday, Trump said the United States will "totally destroy" North Korea if forced to defend itself or its allies against a North Korean attack.

Ri also rejected the latest UN Security Council resolutions against the North, claiming that the UN is banning nuclear tests only for the North, which is unjustifiable.

The top diplomat said that his country is now entering the final stage of completing its nuclear force, adding that the North's ultimate goal is to establish a balance of power with the United States.

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