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Sir Michael Fallon said the UK was conducting a series of military drills alongside the US as tensions continue to rise with dictator Kim Jong-un’s regime. As fears gather that the hermit kingdom’s missile launches could trigger World War 3, Sir Michael said Britain’s decision-making would be “rapid”. And he revealed nuclear submarine crews at the Clyde naval base in Scotland are “ready” for war, should it breakout.

GETTY Sir Michael Fallon says the UK is ready for war

GETTY Nuclear submarines are "ready" for war

US warships have also been practicing shooting down missiles in drills off Scotland’s west coast, he said. Sir Michael told the Daily Mail: “North Korean tests have shown the danger of rogue states developing longer range missiles. “By hosting this cutting-edge exercise, Britain is at the forefront of developing a more effective response to this growing threat.”

GETTY Sir Michael Fallon at the Clyde base

“Today the nuclear dangers are intensifying from a reckless North Korea and increasingly assertive Russia. “UK weapons remain the only credible way to deter the most extreme dangers, reminding any aggressor the benefits of an attack would be vastly outweighed by the consequences.” Tensions with North Korea have ratcheted up in recent days with North Korea accusing Donald Trump of declaring war on the country.

GETTY Kim Jong-un is threatening war

The US President has warned the secretive state would be “totally destroyed” if Kim Jong-un provoked a military conflict. Sir Michael was speaking after holding security talks with Nato's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the 29 ambassadors of the North Atlantic Council at Clyde. And he warned the UK’s nuclear deterrent was the only way to fend off Pyongyang’s military ambitions.

Asked whether the UK was preparing for war, Sir Michael said: "We are working very closely with the United States on all the diplomatic pressure that is needed now to bring this illegal testing programme to a halt. "We have to exhaust every conceivable diplomatic channel before we start considering any kind of military action.” Mr Stoltenberg said: "We continue to work for a peaceful political negotiated solution to the crisis in Korea and we continue to strongly condemn the testing, the development of missiles and nuclear weapons.

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