Fingers on buttons Doubtful claims of the North Korean dictator

The New Year address of Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, featured the alarming claim that he keeps a “nuclear button” on his desk.

As he warned the US that his regime’s nuclear programme was nearing completion, Mr Kim said: “The entire United States is within range of our nuclear weapons, a nuclear button is always on my desk. This is reality, not a threat.”

The bold claim is unlikely to be true, however, as – by his own admission – the warheads and missiles are yet to be deployed.

Mr Kim added: “This year, we should focus on mass-producing nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles for operational deployment. These weapons will be used only if our society is threatened.”

The remark is likely to be a tactic designed to intimidate Donald Trump, the US president, who in November disparagingly referred to Mr Kim as “little Rocket Man”.