Kim Jong-un could launch nuclear strike on US in less than SIX MONTHS

NORTH KOREA could be able to launch a nuclear attack on the United States in less than six months despite sanctions starting to have a large effect on the population, East Asia expert Gordon Chang warned.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un warned he was ready to press the "nuclear button" on his desk to hit the United States, possibly kickstarting World War 3.

But Mr Chang said the international community has between three to six months before North Korea reaches nuclear capability to defuse tensions.

He said: "Kim Jong-un actually doesn’t have a button he can push right now. Maybe three months, six months from now, he can pick up the phone and launch a nuke at the United States.

"The one thing Kim can do is launch an electromagnetic pulse device: he doesn’t need heat shielding, he doesn’t need guidance. He could do a lot of damage to the United States."

Mr Chang made his comment moments after US President Donald Trump tweeted his nuclear button was "much bigger and more powerful," signalling the US would be ready to quickly respond to an attack from Pyongyang.

But despite the threatening message from the President, Mr Chang said UN-imposed sanctions could ultimately dash Kim's nuclear ambitions.

Speaking to CNN, the 'Nuclear Showdown' author said: "Trump also tweeted this morning that sanctions are starting to bite. I think that’s actually true because we’ve been seeing a lot of evidence where people in Pyongyang are not getting their rations.