North Korea is again on the warpath. Kim Jong-un is steadily asserting himself as the centre of all authority, as his grandfather did. He is unbelievably running the ambitious nuclear weapons programme personally, cutting out the usual chain of command. North Korea is not being ruled by the military anymore but by one man.

His body language is also significant: TV images show him giving guidance as top military officers dutifully take notes, a show of submission to his personal authority. Some details in such images may have been deliberately included to demonstrate the country’s growing capabilities, which were mocked by American scientists last year.

Photos North Korea has released of rocket engine tests and an analysis of the flame from the engine by American experts confirm without any doubt that the missiles are specifically designed to cover thousands of miles – enough to reach Washington DC and bring Donald Trump to his senses.

The last words Barack Obama told Trump before he left office were precisely: “North Korea’s nuclear development is a deadly serious programme, specifically intended to harm America, Japan and South Korea... and I strongly suggest you tackle it as your first immediate priority.”

Civil society in America needs to take a stand against Trump for him to take matters more seriously. He must remember that he lost the popular vote and would have lost the Electoral College if a significant number of voters had not been misled by the media and the FBI into believing that Hillary Clinton was somehow even less ethical than he was. These voters are now having a rude awakening and need to be kept awake.