Kim Jong Un says the nuclear button is always on his desk
Kim Jong Un
Story highlights  Kim  raises possibility of North Korean athletes in Winter Olympics in South Korea
(CNN)  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un  has warned the United States that  his  country's nuclear capabilities are now complete and the nuclear launch button is always on  his  desk.
"The entire mainland of the US is within the range of our nuclear weapons and the nuclear button is always on the desk of my office. They should accurately be aware that this is not a threat but a reality " said  Kim  during  his  annual New Year's Day address  according to a CNN translation of the speech.
"No matter how much America wants to attack us with their military might and nuclear power  they know that now we possess such great nuclear power and therefore they will not dare "  Kim  said  adding that  his  country's greatest achievement of 2017 was the "historic accomplishment of completing our nuclear capabilities."
Since coming to power   Kim  has overseen a dramatic increase in the pace of North Korea's missile program. As of February last year  Pyongyang has fired off 23 missiles  improving its technology with each launch. In September  the regime carried out its sixth and most powerful nuclear test.
Euan Graham  director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute  told CNN that  Kim 's nuclear button comment is "effectively just noise."
Story highlights  Kim  raises possibility of North Korean athletes in Winter Olympics in South Korea
(CNN)   [TGT] has warned the United States that   [TGT]   country's nuclear capabilities are now complete and the nuclear launch button is always on   [TGT]   desk.
"The entire mainland of the US is within the range of our nuclear weapons and the nuclear button is always on the desk of my office. They should accurately be aware that this is not a threat but a reality " said  Kim  during  his  annual New Year's Day address  according to a CNN translation of the speech.
"No matter how much America wants to attack us with their military might and nuclear power  they know that now we possess such great nuclear power and therefore they will not dare "  Kim  said  adding that  his  country's greatest achievement of 2017 was the "historic accomplishment of completing our nuclear capabilities."
Since coming to power   Kim  has overseen a dramatic increase in the pace of North Korea's missile program. As of February last year  Pyongyang has fired off 23 missiles  improving its technology with each launch. In September  the regime carried out its sixth and most powerful nuclear test.
Euan Graham  director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute  told CNN that  Kim 's nuclear button comment is "effectively just noise."