N Korean leader ‘has nuclear button ready’

NORTH KOREAN leader Kim Jong Un has said the United States should be aware that his country’s nuclear forces are now a reality, not a threat.

But he also struck a conciliatory tone in his new year’s address, wishing success for the Winter Olympics set to begin in the South in February and suggesting the North may send a delegation to participate.

Kim, wearing a Westernstyle grey suit and tie, said in his customary annual address that his country had achieved the historic feat of “completing” its nuclear forces and added he has a nuclear button on his desk.

“The US should know that the button for nuclear weapons is on my table,” he said during the speech.

“The entire area of the US mainland is within our nuclear strike range ... the United States can never start a war against me and our country.”

Kim also called for improved relations with the South, an idea mentioned in speeches more often than it is met.

He said the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics would be a good opportunity to showcase the status of the Korean nation.

He said the North and South could meet urgently to discuss the North sending a delegation.

“The Winter Olympic Games that will be held soon in the South will be a good opportunity to display the status of the Korean nation and we sincerely wish that the event will be held with good results,” he said.

South Korea’s presidential office said it welcomed the proposal to hold talks between government officials over the issue of North Korea sending a delegation to the Olympics.

This year’s speech was seen as particularly important because of the high tensions over Pyongyang’s frequent missile launches and its nuclear test in 2017. The tests were the focus of fiery verbal exchanges between the North and US President Donald Trump.