This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42549687
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Trump to Kim: My nuclear button is 'bigger and more powerful' | Trump to Kim: My nuclear button is 'bigger and more powerful' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US President Donald Trump has boasted that his nuclear button is "much bigger" and "more powerful" than North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's. | US President Donald Trump has boasted that his nuclear button is "much bigger" and "more powerful" than North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's. |
| Mr Trump's tweet is the latest contribution to an increasingly personalised feud between the nuclear-armed leaders. | Mr Trump's tweet is the latest contribution to an increasingly personalised feud between the nuclear-armed leaders. |
| Mr Kim threatened earlier this week that his nuclear launch button was "always on my table". | Mr Kim threatened earlier this week that his nuclear launch button was "always on my table". |
| Unsurprisingly, Mr Trump's unorthodox words sent social media into a frenzy. | Unsurprisingly, Mr Trump's unorthodox words sent social media into a frenzy. |
| It ended a quick-fire day of tweeting by Mr Trump in which he took credit for a lack of plane crashes, announced awards for "corrupt media" and threatened to pull aid from Palestinians for failing to show "appreciation or respect". | It ended a quick-fire day of tweeting by Mr Trump in which he took credit for a lack of plane crashes, announced awards for "corrupt media" and threatened to pull aid from Palestinians for failing to show "appreciation or respect". |
| Is the 'playground chatter' in new territory? | Is the 'playground chatter' in new territory? |
| Just as President Trump's unorthodox Twitter habits have puzzled observers in the past, the latest tweet is again redefining what is considered a diplomatic or presidential tone. | Just as President Trump's unorthodox Twitter habits have puzzled observers in the past, the latest tweet is again redefining what is considered a diplomatic or presidential tone. |
| "I guess the president regards this as a show of strength," said Jim Himes, a Democrat representative from Connecticut and a member of the House Intelligence Committee, on CNN. "But, as everybody who's ever been in a... first grade playground recognises, it's usually the person who's most aggressively pounding their chest that is in fact the weak one on the playground." | "I guess the president regards this as a show of strength," said Jim Himes, a Democrat representative from Connecticut and a member of the House Intelligence Committee, on CNN. "But, as everybody who's ever been in a... first grade playground recognises, it's usually the person who's most aggressively pounding their chest that is in fact the weak one on the playground." |
| Mr Trump and Mr Kim have a colourful history of name-calling. | Mr Trump and Mr Kim have a colourful history of name-calling. |
| Eliot A Cohen, who advised the Republican former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said the latest tweet was childish yet deadly serious. | Eliot A Cohen, who advised the Republican former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said the latest tweet was childish yet deadly serious. |
| And activists agreed. | And activists agreed. |
| Several argued that Twitter should not allow "calls for nuclear war" to be broadcast on its platform. | Several argued that Twitter should not allow "calls for nuclear war" to be broadcast on its platform. |
| However, Mr Trump's supporters have defended him, saying his comments were both factually accurate and showed American strength and resolve. | However, Mr Trump's supporters have defended him, saying his comments were both factually accurate and showed American strength and resolve. |
| Could Donald Trump press the button? | Could Donald Trump press the button? |
| Mr Trump's latest comment states the obvious: a US president has immediate access to the nuclear codes. | Mr Trump's latest comment states the obvious: a US president has immediate access to the nuclear codes. |
| However, the real process of launching a nuclear attack does not involve any button-pressing. | However, the real process of launching a nuclear attack does not involve any button-pressing. |
| After high-level consultations, the president would exchange codes with top military officials. They are printed on a card known as "the biscuit", which he carries wherever he goes. | |
| According to US media, Mr Trump's desk does, however, have a button that orders someone to bring him a Diet Coke. | According to US media, Mr Trump's desk does, however, have a button that orders someone to bring him a Diet Coke. |
| At least that's what US media reported after seeing said button in action during interviews. | At least that's what US media reported after seeing said button in action during interviews. |
| Could North Korea launch attack of its own? | Could North Korea launch attack of its own? |
| North Korea claims it has nuclear weapons and could strike the US, but while analysts agree that Pyongyang has nuclear weapons, it is not clear whether it has the technology to use them in anger. | North Korea claims it has nuclear weapons and could strike the US, but while analysts agree that Pyongyang has nuclear weapons, it is not clear whether it has the technology to use them in anger. |
| Meanwhile, in contrast to the bickering on Twitter, the North has just reopened a telephone hotline to the South. | Meanwhile, in contrast to the bickering on Twitter, the North has just reopened a telephone hotline to the South. |
| Was President Trump riled by a Fox News report? | Was President Trump riled by a Fox News report? |
| The latest outburst came a day after Mr Kim's speech, to which President Trump initially reacted with caution. "Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not - we will see!", he tweeted. | The latest outburst came a day after Mr Kim's speech, to which President Trump initially reacted with caution. "Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not - we will see!", he tweeted. |
| But his later remark left some social media users questioning if the president had been watching Fox News - which had covered the topic a few minutes before. He is known to be a fan of the channel and often tweets along. | But his later remark left some social media users questioning if the president had been watching Fox News - which had covered the topic a few minutes before. He is known to be a fan of the channel and often tweets along. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| Mother sues dentist son to repay tuition | Mother sues dentist son to repay tuition |
| YouTuber 'ashamed' by his dead-man video | YouTuber 'ashamed' by his dead-man video |
| Egypt's top imam endorses Bitcoin ban | Egypt's top imam endorses Bitcoin ban |