Trump Hints At Nuclear War, Taunts Kim Jong-Un Over "Button" Size

WASHINGTON, DC — In his 17th tweet of the new year, President Trump hinted at the possibility of nuclear war with North Korea. Trump was responding to Kim Jong-un's claim that "a nuclear button is always on my desk."

Trump responded by writing, "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!"

The president's comments came hours after his ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, warned that the United States "will never accept a nuclear North Korea."

Haley said the United States has been hearing reports that North Korea is possibly readying another missile test.

"I hope that doesn't happen," Haley told reporters outside the Security Council. "But if it does, we must bring even tougher measures to bear against the North Korean regime."

In 2017, the North Koreans conducted 23 missile launches, 15 of which were believed to be nuclear-capable. They have also conducted six nuclear tests, the most recent of which was last September.

The comments from Trump and Haley came after a New Year's Day speech by the North Korean leader in which he mixed the claim about the nuclear button with overtures to South Korea about sending athletes to the Winter Olympics that are scheduled to begin there next month.

Trump's comments were far from his only threats of violence against North Korea.

In August, he promised that North Korea "will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen" if they threaten the United States.

The following month, speaking before the United Nations General Assembly, Trump referred to the North Korean leader as "Rocket Man," adding that "the United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea."

Around 10 hours before the president tweeted about the size of his nuclear "button," he had seemed open to the possibility of North Korea and South Korea talking.

"Sanctions and 'other' pressures are beginning to have a big impact on North Korea," Trump wrote early Tuesday morning. "Soldiers are dangerously fleeing to South Korea. Rocket man now wants to talk to South Korea for first time.

"Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not — we will see!"

Late Tuesday night, the Associated Press reported that Kim had restarted a communications system with the South that had been closed for the past two years.

Pool photo of the president by his desk in March via Getty Images News/Getty Images.