North Korea has continued to ramp up its threats to the United States and refused to shut down its nuclear programme.
Kim Jong-un sent a warning to President Donald Trump during his New Year’s speech as he claimed that he had a nuclear button “on his desk” and had weapons capable of reaching the United States.
President Donald Trump responded to the warning insisting that his nuclear weapons were “much bigger”, sparking World War 3 fears.
Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations defended President Trump for responding to the threats.
She told ABC News: “I think he always has to keep Kim on his toes.
“It is very important that we don’t ever let him get so arrogant, that he doesn’t realise the reality of what would happen if he started a nuclear war.
“Everybody is going to have their opinion but what I can tell you is I am dealing with the diplomats on the ground, I’m dealing with all the actors in this situation.
“It is a serious situation and he can’t sit there and imply that he is going to destroy the United States, without us reminding him of the facts and the reality that ‘if you go there, it’s not us that is going to be destroyed, it’s you’.”
During his New Year’s address, Kim Jong-un announced that he was open to talks with its southern rival, but also issued a threat to Donald Trump.
He said: ”When it comes to North-South relations, we should lower the military tensions on the Korean Peninsula to create a peaceful environment. Both the North and the South should make efforts.
“This year marks the 70th anniversary of the North Korean regime’s establishment, and the South will host the Winter Games. This year holds significance for the two Koreas.”
The dictator added that “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.”
President Donald Trump took to Twitter to quickly respond to the threats from Kim Jong-un.
He wrote: “North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.”
“Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”