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North Korean Leader Declares “A Nuclear Button is Always on My Desk”

HeadlineJan 02, 2018

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared his nation a fully fledged nuclear power Monday, saying in a televised New Year’s Day speech he was prepared to launch a nuclear attack against his enemies—including South Korea, Japan or the United States.

Kim Jong-un: “The entire United States is within range of our nuclear weapons, and a nuclear button is always on my desk. This is reality, not a threat.”

Kim said North Korea would now focus on mass-producing nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles for operational deployment. Meanwhile, Kim made an apparent peace overture toward South Korea, saying he might send a delegation to next month’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. South Korean President Moon Jae-in welcomed the gesture, saying he’s asked North Korea to open high-level talks next Tuesday to discuss the Olympics and North Korea’s nuclear program.

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