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January 2, 2018

North Korean Leader Declares "A Nuclear Button is Always on My Desk"
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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 Pyeong Chang. 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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