When world leaders want to look tough they often do military photo ops - think Putin alongside his top generals, Trump on a warship and even Thatcher in a tank back in the day.

Now the new French President is getting in on the act.

Emmanuel Macron has visited a submarine as he reiterated his country's commitment to its nuclear arsenal.

Image: The French President on 'Le Terrible'

In a photo released on his Twitter account, Mr Macron was pictured being winched down on to the sub.

Dressed in a naval uniform, he spent four hours touring "The Terrible" and took part in a simulated missile launch.


Image: Mr Macron speaks to the crew via the sub's intercom

He also spoke to personnel via the sub's intercom and donned headphones as he viewed a computer screen.

During the trip to the Ile Longue base off the Brittany coast, Mr Macron also met engineers and technicians in charge of assembling and maintaining nuclear warheads.

Image: The leader met military personnel on the sub

Once the UK leaves the European Union, France will be the only country in the bloc that has nuclear weapons.

Mr Macron's visit comes just after North Korea announced it had tested an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Image: President Trump aboard the USS Gerald R Ford in March

Pyongyang's latest move marked a "new escalation of threat" to the world, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson warned.

He said the White House intended to "enact stronger measures to hold DPRK accountable".

Image: Vladimir Putin meets his military chiefs

Mr Tillerson added the US "will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea" and said President Trump and his national security team were "continuing to assess the situation".