After the bomb

SIR – Guy Kelly’s article (September 3) serves as a valuable reminder of the dangers of nuclear war.

There is a problem in that we now have several generations who did not live through the Second World War or the Cold War. Half a century ago, I was a TA sapper officer at the height of the Cold War. Civil defence and NBC (nuclear, biological or chemical) training were drilled into us as much as infantry tactics and bridge building.

One particular aspect is even more relevant today. That is the impact of an electromagnetic pulse, even from a distant nuclear explosion, which we may not hear but which would destroy transistors and the electronic equipment containing them.

Guy Kelly implies that the Government plans to contact us using the mobile phone network. This may be ideal before any attack, but what happens when telecommunications fail after one? Indeed, how will nuclear plant control-systems, flying aircraft, trains and the rest operate safely? John Blatchford

Midsomer Norton, Somerset

SIR – Given the methods he’s deployed to kill some of those closest to him, surely no one can dispute the assertion that the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, is a psychopath.

While British politicians, supported by most of the media, suggest that Donald Trump’s threats are less than helpful, he seems to be the only world leader who doesn’t want such a man controlling nuclear warheads.

For almost 80 years commentators have looked back and criticised Neville Chamberlain for “appeasing” Hitler. Now all the Western world, except America, is doing exactly the same. Nothing will stop Kim Jong-un except direct military action. Jim Kirkwood

Kilmarnock, Ayrshire