Kim Jong Un Quotes: 10 Provocative Things North Korea's Dictatorial Leader Has Said Ahead Of 33rd Birthday

North Korea's dictatorial leader Kim Jong Un turns 33 Sunday, and in his five years of rule, he has proven willing to make provocative comments aimed at putting the West on notice.

Under Kim, the isolated nation has increasingly put its focus on developing its nuclear capabilities, which the leader has regularly boasted about on the world stage. Just this week, Kim claimed that North Korea was nearly ready to test an intercontinental ballistic missile, which caused concern in the West at large and elicited a response from President-elect Donald Trump. Such comments are not out of the norm for Kim, who has adopted an aggressive public posture during his time leading North Korea, especially towards the U.S.

Listed below are 10 quotes from Kim as the leader turns 33, collected from the New York Times, Brainy Quote, CNBC and past International Business Times articles.

1. "[North Korea] can tip new-type intercontinental ballistic rockets with more powerful nuclear warheads and keep any cesspool of evils in the earth, including the U.S. mainland, within our striking range."

2. "The military might of a country represents its national strength. Only when it builds up its military might in every way can it develop into a thriving country."

3. "If the American imperialists provoke us a bit, we will not hesitate to slap them with a pre-emptive nuclear strike. The United States must choose! It’s up to you whether the nation called the United States exists on this planet or not."

4. "The industrial revolution in the new century is, in essence, a scientific and technological revolution, and breaking through the cutting edge is a shortcut to the building of an economic giant."

5. "The party's revolutionary armament means we are ready to fight any kind of war waged by the U.S. imperialists."

6. "The wicked Japanese imperialists committed such unpardonable crimes as depriving Korea of even its standard time."

7. "Research and development of the cutting-edge tech weapons are actively progressing and strengthening our defense capabilities, including last stage preparation of tests for Intercontinental Ballistic rocket launch have been continuously succeeding."

8. "The days are gone forever when our enemies could blackmail us with nuclear bombs."

9. The American movie "The Interview" is a film "abetting a terrorist act while hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership."

10. "The massacres committed by the U.S. imperialist aggressors in Sinchon evidently showed that they are cannibals and homicides seeking pleasure in slaughter."