Pictures have been released of Kim Jong-un overseeing a military contest of female soldiers.

The images broadcast on North Korean state television KRT show the country's supreme leader taking a keen interest as the artillery unit fired a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) at an undisclosed location in the secretive state.

Image: Women gunners fire shells from a multiple launch rocket system at an undisclosed location

One picture appears to show a smiling Mr Kim about to be mobbed by a group of emotional female soldiers.

Image: Kim Jong-un watches the women gunners' military drill

It comes weeks after North Korea said it was "close to the brink of war" with South Korea and warned Britain to stay out of the fight after the UK announced it would take part in joint military drills with South Korea and the US.

North and South Korea have technically been at war since their last conflict ended in 1953 without a peace treaty.


Image: North Korea has warned Britain to 'stay out of the fight' after it said it would take part in drills with the US and South Korea

The war games will be played out later this month as an exercise in case there is ever the need for the real thing.

In September, North Korea celebrated its fifth and biggest nuclear test.