North Korean authorities are “ready for war” following the US’s “reckless moves for invading” and sending battle ships within their coastal waters.

“We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions,” a spokesman for its Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

The US sent the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its group of battle warships to waters off the coast of the Peninsula in a display of defiance against the Republic and to conduct exercises with the South Korean Navy.

“This goes to prove that the US’s reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase of its scenario,” the spokesman continued.

“If the US dares opt for a military action, crying out for ‘preemptive attack’ and ‘removal of the headquarters’, the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US.”

US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach Show all 10 1 /10 US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach US Marine soldiers patrol during the US-South Korea joint Exercise Operation Pacific Reach in Pohang, South Korea. North Korea is vowing tough counteraction to any military moves that might follow the US move to send the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to waters off the Korean Peninsula AP US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korean soldiers take part in the Operation Pacific Reach joint logistic exercise in Pohang, South Korea Reuters US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach North Korea is vowing tough counteraction to any military moves that might follow the US move to send the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to waters off the Korean Peninsula AP US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korean marine soldiers stand guard during the US-South Korea joint Exercise Operation Pacific Reach in Pohang, South Korea AP US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach A US Marine takes part in Operation Pacific Reach joint logistic exercise in Pohang, South Korea Reuters US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach A US Marine takes a position during a Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (CJLOTS) exercise as part of a joint defence exercise at a beach in Pohang Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korea and the United States kicked off a combined distribution exercise focused on integrating the two sides alliance logistics capabilities, in Pohang, 260 kms southeast of Seoul Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korea and the United States kicked off a combined distribution exercise focused on integrating the two sides alliance logistics capabilities Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach A US Marine walks past a military vehicle during a Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (CJLOTS) exercise as part of a joint defence exercise in Pohang Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach US Marines gather at a beach during a Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (CJLOTS) exercise as part of a joint defence exercise in Pohang, 260 kms southeast of Seoul, South Korea Getty Images

The Northern Republic is vowing tough retaliatory moves amid escalating conflicts with the US, shortly after North Korea tested out ballistic missiles and justified the test as self-defence while engaging in war games with its southern neighbour.

President Donald Trump said the US was prepared to act alone to deal with the threat from North Korea to test more ballistic missiles and develop one that could reach the US. Such tests are banned under United Nations resolutions.

Donald Trump could lead US into new war with North Korea, warns former MI6 chief

The official response followed US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s statement on US missile strikes against a Syrian airbase in retaliation for a chemical weapon attack carried out by Bashar al-Assad.

He did not specify North Korea, but his message was clear.

”If you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken,“ Mr Tillerson told ABC.

US naval ships in the area are not uncommon. On Saturday night the Pentagon ordered a Navy carrier strike group to move towards the western Pacific Ocean to be more of a physical presence in the region, a move that Mr Trump’s national security adviser H R McMaster called “prudent”.

Officials from South Korea and China, North Korea’s closest ally, threatened to impose “strong additional measures” if North Korea carries out more nuclear tests. China has already executed sanctions, including banning all North Korean coal imports for the last two months.