USA TODAY International Edition
Kim says nuclear arsenal at his fingertips
Kim Jong Un used his annual New Year’s Day speech Monday to announce that he has a nuclear button on his desk that puts the U.S. mainland within the range of his weapons.
The North Korean leader said he would not use the weapons unless threatened.
“The United States should know that the button for nuclear weapons is on my table,” he said during the nationally televised speech, according to a translation by the Associated Press. The entire U.S. mainland, he said, “is within our nuclear strike range.”
“This year, we should focus on massproducing nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles for operational deployment,” Kim said. “These weapons will be used only if our security is threatened.”
Dressed in a Western-style gray suit and tie, Kim said North Korea had been successful in completing its nuclear arsenal, including the nuclear button on his desk.
He said the United States “can never start a war against me and our country.”
North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test in September and recently launched its most hightech intercontinental ballistic missile.
Asked about Kim’s nuclear claims Sunday night, President Trump said, “We’ll see,” according to The Washington Post.
The annual New Year’s address is closely watched for indications of the direction and priorities Kim may adopt in the year ahead.
Aside from his announcement on nuclear weapons, Kim said military tensions on the Korean Peninsula must be lowered, adding that he would consider sending a delegation to the Winter Olympic Games in South Korea.
“North Korea’s participation in the Winter Games will be a good opportunity to show unity of the people, and we wish the Games will be a success,” he said, according to a Reuters translation of the speech.
South Korean President Moon Jae In proposed that Seoul and Washington postpone annual joint military drills until after the Olympics, The Post noted. 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.