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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Kim Jong-un: North Korea's nuclear arsenal is now complete | Kim Jong-un: North Korea's nuclear arsenal is now complete |
| (25 days later) | |
| North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, has warned the United States his country’s nuclear forces are now “completed”, adding that the nuclear launch button was always within easy reach. | North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, has warned the United States his country’s nuclear forces are now “completed”, adding that the nuclear launch button was always within easy reach. |
| While he remained defiant in his confrontation with Donald Trump, he struck a more conciliatory note on relations with South Korea, offering to start talks on sending a North Korean delegation to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. | While he remained defiant in his confrontation with Donald Trump, he struck a more conciliatory note on relations with South Korea, offering to start talks on sending a North Korean delegation to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. |
| After a year in which he ordered a string of missile launches – including three intercontinental ballistic missiles – and the regime’s sixth and most powerful nuclear test, Kim used his annual New Year’s Day address to declare the North’s nuclear weapons capability a reality. | After a year in which he ordered a string of missile launches – including three intercontinental ballistic missiles – and the regime’s sixth and most powerful nuclear test, Kim used his annual New Year’s Day address to declare the North’s nuclear weapons capability a reality. |
| “We achieved the goal of completing our state nuclear force in 2017,” Kim said in a speech broadcast live by state TV. “We need to mass-produce nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles and accelerate their deployment. | “We achieved the goal of completing our state nuclear force in 2017,” Kim said in a speech broadcast live by state TV. “We need to mass-produce nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles and accelerate their deployment. |
| “The US should know that the button for nuclear weapons is on my desk. This is not blackmail but reality.” | “The US should know that the button for nuclear weapons is on my desk. This is not blackmail but reality.” |
| Dressed in a western-style grey suit and tie, Kim added, however, that the North’s nuclear arsenal played a purely deterrent role. “The entire area of the US mainland is within our nuclear strike range,” he said. “The US can never start a war against me and our country. These weapons will be used only if our security is threatened.” | Dressed in a western-style grey suit and tie, Kim added, however, that the North’s nuclear arsenal played a purely deterrent role. “The entire area of the US mainland is within our nuclear strike range,” he said. “The US can never start a war against me and our country. These weapons will be used only if our security is threatened.” |
| Asked about Kim’s claim that he has a nuclear button on his desk, and that the weapons can reach the US, Donald Trump said from his New Year’s Eve party at Mar-a-Lago: “We’ll see, we’ll see.” | Asked about Kim’s claim that he has a nuclear button on his desk, and that the weapons can reach the US, Donald Trump said from his New Year’s Eve party at Mar-a-Lago: “We’ll see, we’ll see.” |
| Kim said North Korean athletes could participate in the Winter Olympics, which open in the South Korean town of Pyeongchang next month. | Kim said North Korean athletes could participate in the Winter Olympics, which open in the South Korean town of Pyeongchang next month. |
| South Korea’s president, Moon Jae-in, has encouraged Pyongyang to send a delegation to the Games, hoping their presence would help ease tensions on the Korean peninsula. | South Korea’s president, Moon Jae-in, has encouraged Pyongyang to send a delegation to the Games, hoping their presence would help ease tensions on the Korean peninsula. |
| Kim said: “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. | Kim said: “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. |
| “We are prepared to take various steps, including the dispatch of a delegation.” | “We are prepared to take various steps, including the dispatch of a delegation.” |
| The Winter Olympics will be held from 9-25 February, followed by the Paralympics from 9-18 March. | The Winter Olympics will be held from 9-25 February, followed by the Paralympics from 9-18 March. |