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How do you launch a nuclear missile?
We explain the nuclear weapons systems of the US, Russia, Britain and China.
'Do we want his finger anywhere near the button?' Hillary Clinton asked during the US election campaign, referring to Mr Trump and the nuclear arsenal. But how close is an American president's finger to 'the button'? How close is anyone’s? We explain how the nuclear weapons systems of the US, Russia, Britain and China work – and how much power any one individual has over them.
(Photo: A Trident Ii, Or D-5 Missile, Is Launched From An Ohio-Class Submarine. Credit: Getty Images)
Last on
Sat 28 Jan 201722:06GMT
BBC World Service except East Asia & News Internet
Clips
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How would a US President launch a nuclear attack?
Duration: 02:23
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Launching a nuclear missile from beyond the grave
Duration: 01:13
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‘I felt close to nuclear war once’
Duration: 01:44
Broadcasts
- Tue 24 Jan 201702:06GMTBBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Tue 24 Jan 201703:06GMTBBC World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Tue 24 Jan 201704:06GMTBBC World Service East Asia
- Tue 24 Jan 201705:06GMTBBC World Service Australasia & South Asia only
- Tue 24 Jan 201707:06GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa
- Tue 24 Jan 201709:06GMTBBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Tue 24 Jan 201715:06GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Tue 24 Jan 201720:06GMTBBC World Service Online, Americas and the Caribbean, Australasia, Europe and the Middle East & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Tue 24 Jan 201721:06GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa only
- Sat 28 Jan 201722:06GMTBBC World Service except East Asia & News Internet
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