A HUGE US Navy super-carrier is gearing up for war off the coast of North Korea after Kim Jong-un's third test fire flop this month.

USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group has arrived in waters near the Korean peninsula, where it will join the USS Michigan, a guided missile submarine that docked in South Korea on Tuesday.

11 The Nimitz-class U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson sailing towards the Korean coast this morning Credit: Reuters

11 The enormous aircraft carrier is bristling with fighter and bomber jets as well as missiles Credit: AP:Associated Press

Upon arrival today, the carrier kicked off a joint drill with the South Korean navy.

A defence ministry spokesman said: "Immediately after the aircraft carrier arrived in the Sea of Japan, South Korea and the US strike forces launched a drill from 6pm Saturday."

The drill came hours after the North launched a ballistic missile in apparent defiance of a concerted US push for tougher international sanctions to curb Pyongyang's nuclear weapons ambitions.

11 Trump is beginning to show America' military might after saying that North Korea was 'disrespecting China' with its actions Credit: EPA

11 North Korea's despot leader claims to have the fire power at his disposal to blast the US carrier out of the water Credit: Reuters

11 A Japanese man in Tokyo walks past a TV showing news of USS aircraft carrier Carl Vinson while reporting North Korea's missile test Credit: AP:Associated Press

11 The nuclear-powered submarine USS Michigan, which is armed with 150 Tomahawk cruise missiles, is set to join the US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson Credit: AP:Associated Press

11 A North Korean ballistic missile is fired from a submarine during an earlier rocket test this week Credit: EPA

11 People watch a TV broadcasting of North Korea's failed missile launch at a railway station in Seoul Credit: Reuters

The drill aimed to verify the allies' capability to track and intercept enemy ballistic missiles, a military spokesman said.

He declined to clarify how long the drill would last, but Yonhap news agency said it was expected to continue until sometime next week.

The drill will also include a live-fire exercise and anti-submarine maneouvres, the spokesman added.

It would mark the USS Carl Vinson's second operation in South Korean waters in less than two months amid heightened military tensions in Korea.

In March, the aircraft carrier carried out annual joint drills.

Earlier this week, the US carrier had joint drills with Japan's naval forces.

North Korea's state media said the North's military is capable of sinking the aircraft carrier with a single strike.

11 Tensions with the West have reached fever pitch over recent weeks as North Korea flouts the UN missile testing ban Credit: EPA

It comes as the Trump administration said a raft of new economic sanctions and military manoeuvres may be speedily deployed after the rocket threat.

A source told Reuters that new naval drills and more war ships could be sent to the region in a further show of force.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned that failure to curb Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes could lead to "catastrophic consequences".

Mr Tillerson said: "The threat of a nuclear attack on Seoul, or Tokyo, is real, and it's only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the US mainland.

"Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences."

North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 28, 2017

Earlier the President warned of a "major, major conflict" with Kim Jong-un's hermit state if it doesn't fall into line.

And China ordered it to stand down its rocket testing or risk harsh sanctions.

In a failed test, a missile was launched from Pukchang Airfield north of the capital Pyongyang at about 9.30pm GMT.

US officials confirmed they had tracked the medium range weapon, which may have been nuclear capable, and that President Trump had been informed.

He later tweeted: "North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad!"

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The rocket exploded within North Korean territory above the Sea of Japan minutes after it was fired, military chiefs said.

"It's possible that something could be sped up," a senior White House official said of the potential for imposing new sanctions on North Korea.

"Something that's ready to go could be taken from the larger package and expedited."

Just hours earlier, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned that failure to stop North Korea's nuclear and missile development could lead to "catastrophic consequences".

China, which has long provided a lifeline to the rogue nation, upped its effort to rein in its trigger-happy neighbour by threatening economic curbs if it further posed a risk.

But the Chinese echoed the Russians by cautioning the West against threatening brute force against skittish Kim.

11 Donald Trump, pictured travelling to a National Rifle Association meeting on Friday, was informed of the launch Credit: EPA

11 US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned the UN on Friday of 'catastrophic consequences' if North Korea wasn't stopped Credit: AP:Associated Press

America committed itself to keeping military options "on the table" to ward off North Korea's nuclear ambitions at a UN Security Council meeting on Friday.

We previously reported that North Korea is ready to send up to 500,000 women soldiers to the front line if war with the US breaks out, according to defectors’ estimates.

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