North Korea's 'nuclear button' might be symbolic, but war risk is real: UN official

Jeffrey Feltman, a top U.N. official who visited North Korea last month, told ABC News he believes the risk of accidental war is real.
3:00 | 01/03/18

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Transcript for North Korea's 'nuclear button' might be symbolic, but war risk is real: UN official
Do you think there could be an accidental war. I don't the risks are not enough and calculate the risks here but when you have absolutely no trust you when you have very few. Channels of communication there is a risk of accidental war there there there is a risk of miscalculation. Erin. War on the group and this will be devastating. So if there's a chance to try to open channels that we need to export we need to try to seize the opportunity. Of looking to see where you might be able to reduce the risks of war through measures aimed at the escalation that would that. They're they'll solve the nuclear problem. But they were the least prevent an accidental war from emerging and they could help create the they think helped create a positive atmosphere. And which one could start talking about the nuclear program the whole world is behind having. Any troops having having. Peaceful atmosphere for those coaching Olympics. What do you think they're willing to talk to. And you could say. One level maybe they were adjusted never in the photo popular some people who who who. We're quite concerned that. The UN through my visit reviewed some analyzed the property and purposes but I don't think that was the case. I think that they were they were true interest in having some kind of policy dialogue after having have has. Any such interaction for a long time this was fifty and half hours assisting talk they had point three want to make us. They wanted to convey to us. Their view of what they see if Italy goes through house resolutions that we countered that by reminding them. Put the charter says they've signed up to the charter. But I think that they. By the nature of how they talked with us and move and how they quiz to solar views I think they were interested in the serious exchange. If he gives this message that he's got this book that he could push right down to us that he'll launch a nuclear bomb that destroyed wherever aims it. You fetuses something that the world just has to move was obvious have never seen can Jung's death. But my guess is that this is a retort for the speeches richer rhetorical device he doesn't have that he has of this its complications are you have to load the liquid fuel into the the launches so he doesn't have that capability. I'm but the point. I think it's clear that he wants he wants the world. Particularly once he wants the United States to understand because it United States could hurt it states that when is clear even if the button thing it is. Gimmick and crew and a true if they can come and would ever stop. Trying to become a nuclear state the logic of everything to him that he added that he has said that and he has done. Would suggest the killing him to look at different direction it's pretty hard. But that is. The unified position of the national community that hope that the DP or care officials in the Kempton himself we'll start with.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

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