“If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere” is a famous line from the song “New York, New York” (1977), composed by John Kander, with lyrics by Fred Ebb. When North Korea announced in 2017 that it was developing missiles that can hit New York City, a popular joke started:
 
“Apparently, North Korea now has a missile that can hit New York, which is a bit scary. If it can make it there, it can make it anywhere.”
         
A form of the joke was printed in the Daily News (New York, NY) on July 31, 2017. “Officials say New York is the hardest city for North Korea to hit with a missile, further proving if you can make it there…” was posted on Twitter on July 31, 2017. “They (North Korea—ed.) have a missile that can hit New York? Like, if it can make it here, it can make it anywhere” was a joke on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah on August 1, 2017.
     
 
Daily News (New York, NY)
North Korea’s nukes are the United States’ problem: Why leaning on China to get tough on Kim Jong Un will not work
BY JOSHUA POLLACK
Monday, July 31, 2017, 12:35 PM  
(...)   
After Kim gave the order, the missile flew on a high arc into space. If it had been launched on a flatter trajectory, the experts assess, it could have made good on the boast of the Party’s newspaper that “the distance to New York . . . is not far off.”
 
To paraphrase another famous chairman, if they can make it there, they’ll make it anywhere.
 
Twitter
Eric Schmidt‏
@TalkingSchmidt
Officials say New York is the hardest city for North Korea to hit with a missile, further proving if you can make it there…
11:13 PM - 31 Jul 2017
 
Comedy Central—The Daily Show (August 1, 2017)
6:48
“They (North Korea—ed.) have a missile that can hit New York? Like, if it can make it here, it can make it anywhere.”
 
Twitter
Kris MacDonald‏
@kdog96
“North Korea has a missle that can make it to New YorK?  If it can make it here… it can make it anywhere.” ~ @Trevornoah @TheDailyShow 😆😬
10:14 PM - 1 Aug 2017
 
Twitter
Strange de Jim‏
@strangedejim
North Korea has a missile that can reach New York. Now I’m worried. If it can make it here, it can make it anywhere.
-Trevor Noah
5:42 PM - 2 Aug 2017
   
Twitter
alankemp‏
@alkemp57
Apparently North Korea now has a missile that can hit New York, which is a bit scary
If it can make it there, it can make it anywhere
12:00 AM - 3 Aug 2017
 
Twitter
Seamus Whelan‏
@SeamusWhelan1
Apparently, North Korea now has a missile that can hit New York, which is a bit scary.
“If it can make it there, it can make it anywhere”,.
12:03 AM - 3 Aug 2017
 
Twitter
Richard Serkey‏
@aufrichtig40
North Korea now has a missile that can hit New York, which is a bit scary.
If it can make it there, it can make it anywhere.
(Sickipedia)
12:20 AM - 3 Aug 2017
 
Reddit—Jokes
North Korea now has a missile that can hit New York, which is a bit scary…
submitted August 4, 2017 by madazzahatter
Because if it can make it there, it can make it anywhere…