Kim Jong Un just demanded to press the nuclear button and also mentioned opening dialogue.

In his New Year's speech this morning, the North Korean leader declared that he had his hand on the nuclear button while at the same time asserting his readiness for dialogue with South Korea.

Image provided by the Korean Central News Agency KCNA of the New Year fireworks display in the capital Pyongyang (North Korea) - Photo: REUTERS

On January 1, 2018, in his New Year's speech, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a threatening message to the United States and suggested the possibility of negotiations with South Korea, the first step of which would be sending a delegation of athletes to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics (South Korea) next February.

In a televised New Year's Day speech, Mr Kim said: "Regarding North-South relations, we should ease military tensions on the Korean Peninsula to create a peaceful environment, and both South and North Korea should make joint efforts."

Mr. Kim also said that he would consider sending a delegation to the Winter Olympics: "North Korea's participation in the Winter Olympics will be a good opportunity to demonstrate the unity of the people and we hope the Olympics will be a great success," and he also called for "officials from both sides to urgently meet to discuss this possibility."

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has previously said that North Korea's participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics would ensure the safety of the Pyeongchang Games and last month proposed that Seoul and Washington postpone joint military exercises (until after the Olympics) that Pyongyang has often denounced as provocative.

In his speech, Mr. Kim also recommended: "Instead of encouraging US measures that threaten security and peace on the Korean peninsula, Seoul should instead respond to reverse the situation with Pyongyang."

In front of the nation, Mr. Kim announced that North Korea will focus on "producing nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles for use" next year with the aim of neutralizing any war that the US might wage against North Korea.

The North Korean leader said: "The entire US is within the range of our nuclear weapons, and the start button is always on my desk. This is a fact, not a threat" but also stressed that "these weapons will be used in case our security is threatened".

Responding to the media who wanted to hear comments on the above statement, US President Donald Trump only said: "We'll see, we'll see" and then walked into the New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, his family's resort in Florida.

According to tuoitre.vn