Donald Trump has threatened North Korea with “fire and fury like the world has never seen” as the world remembers the 72nd anniversary of the US atomic bombs on two Japanese cities.

Carol Turner, CND vice chair, said:

“It’s Nagasaki Day today, when the world remembers the US atomic bomb that hit a Japanese city unleashing a fire storm and winds of 9,000 miles an hour and killing 100,000 people.

“It beggars belief that the US president has chosen the 72nd anniversary to threaten North Korea with ‘fire and fury like the world has never seen’. These words mark the real possibility of a nuclear confrontation.

“Trump’s outrageous statement in the present climate cannot be interpreted as simply words. He has ratcheted up international tensions, already high, taking the world closer to nuclear warfare than we’ve been for many years.

“The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament condemns Trump’s comments and we call on the British government to take swift action to de-escalate this terrifying crisis before it’s too late.”

CND will visit the US embassy at 1pm on Friday as part of a protest delegation. The Stop the War Coalition and a number of celebrities are expected. A statement will be handed in calling on the US government to calm tensions and de-escalate the crisis.