Tokyo — As US President Donald Trump threatens to destroy North Korea, even some of his closest aides have warned of the potentially disastrous effects of a war. New research published on the 38 North website points to just how catastrophic the impact might be on the regime’s neighbours. If Kim Jong-un were to launch a nuclear attack on Seoul and Tokyo — both within striking distance of his weapons — as many as 2.1-million people could die and another 7.7-million could be injured, according to the report. The analysis by Michael J Zagurek Jr, a consultant specialising in databases and computer modeling, is based on North Korea’s current estimated weapons technology and bomb strength. Zagurek assumes Kim has a baseline arsenal of 20 to 25 warheads and the capacity to put them on ballistic missiles. Concerns about a nuclear conflict in North Asia have increased as Kim accelerates his programme of acquiring weapons capable of hitting the continental US, and as Trump threatens pre-empti...

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