NORTH Korea has vowed to "turn the US into a pile of ash" if Donald Trump tries to curb the nation's nuclear ambitions by force.

State-run newspaper Minju Choson warned military confrontation will "inevitably lead the US to self-destruction".

7 Smiling North Korean tyrant Kim Jong-un celebrates the successful test of a long-range missile capable of reaching US territory Credit: Reuters

7 The US fired a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor in a test exercise in Alaska last night Credit: Reuters

7 A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor is seen stationed in Seongju, South Korea Credit: Reuters

It comes after Kim Jong-un's regime launched what it claimed was an intercontinental ballistic missile, capable of reaching the West coast of America.

Cackling Kim hailed the July 4 test of the Hwasong-14 launcher as a "gift for American b******s".

The regime has also conducted several underground tests of atom bombs, although it is not known if it has succeeded in shrinking the device to a size that could be carried on a missile.

Last week America's UN ambassador Nikki Haley said Washington was prepared to use the full range of its capabilities to defend itself and its allies from a threat coming from North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs.

The US diplomat did not rule out the use of military force if necessary.

Mr Trump has launched a global campaign to tackle the North Korean threat and last week urged Kim's ally China to apply pressure over his nuclear programme.

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The US has deployed anti-missile batteries in South Korea, and sent supersonic bombers to join an exercise with South Korean fighters jets in a show of force days after the rocket launch.

7 North Korea hailed the controversial Hwasong-14 rocket launch a great success

7 Kim Jong-un said it was a 'gift for the Americans on July 4'

7 North Korean troops celebrate as the long-range missile heads skywards

7 US and South Korean soldiers fire 'deep strike' precision missiles into the sea as a warning to the North Credit: Reuters

The two nations' militaries also fired "deep strike" precision missiles into the sea. South Korea says the response was "intended as a strong warning against North Korean provocation".

And last night the US used its state-of-the-art THAAD missile defence system to blow a simulated North Korean rocket out of the sky over the Pacific Ocean.

A defence battery in Alaska intercepted a ballistic missile launched from a US plane near Hawaii.

Dozens more THAAD systems are to be delivered to the US Army over the next year.

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