RUSSIA'S president Vladimir Putin is reinforcing his border with North Korea by relocating troops and equipment, according to reports.

The move comes as Donald Trump's naval armada prepares to head to the Korean Peninsula.

11 Footage released allegedly shows a mass military mobilisation in Vladivostok, about 11 miles from the border with North Korea Credit: East2west

Video footage is said to show one of three trains loaded with military equipment moving towards the 11 mile-long land frontier between Russia and the repressive state.

Another scene shows military helicopter appearing to move towards the North Korean border and manoeuvres across rough terrain by army combat vehicles.

Other reports suggest there have been military moves by road as well.

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11 Putin reportedly moved military vehicles towards the city, which is within striking distance of North Korea Credit: East2west

11 Military helicopter appears to be moving towards the North Korean border and manoeuvres across rough terrain by army combat vehicles Credit: East2west

11 There have been concerns that if a conflict breaks out Russia could face a humanitarian exodus from North Korea Credit: East2west

There have been concerns that if a conflict breaks out Russia could face a humanitarian exodus from North Korea.

But Putin has been warned, too, that in the event of a US strike on Kim Jong-un's nuclear facilities, contamination could swiftly reach Russia.

"Railway trains loaded with military equipment moving towards Primorsky region via Khabarovsk have been noticed by locals," reported primemedia.ru in the Russian far East - linking the development to the North Korean crisis.

11 A military convoy appears to be on the move in unverified footage released online Credit: East2west

11 The dramatic move was apparently spotted by residents who posted fooage on social media Credit: East2west

"The movement of military equipment by different means of transport to southern areas is being observed across Primorsky region over the past week," said military veteran Stanislva Sinitsyn.

"Many relate this to the situation in the Korean peninsula.

"The video shows artillery systems that either support troops in assault or meet the aggressor."

He said: "The movement of military equipment means that authorities of our country are keeping up with the situation - and take appropriate measures."

The movements were "a preventive but necessary" measure.

"If the situation worsens, especially related to military events, the armed forces of all the neighbouring countries obviously monitor it more closely, and we are no exception.

"It is not the first time that North Korea has broken the peace in the region, that's why this situation deserves attention."

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Russian military spokesman Alexander Gordeyev declined to give the exact reasons for the troop and equipment movements but said exercises had recently ended in the TransBaikal region of Siberia.

But a number of local sources appear to believe the movements are linked to the Korean crisis.

The naval port of Vladivostok - where Russia has huge military forces - is less than 100 miles from North Korea.

11 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered his missiles be ready within the next 12 months Credit: Reuters

11 North Korea paraded nukes through the street at parades marking 105 years since the state’s founder Kim Il-sung was born Credit: AP:Associated Press

Expert on the repressive state, Konstantin Asmolov, said: "Should the US strike with missiles at North Korea's nuclear facilities, a radioactive cloud will reach Vladivostok within two hours."

Asmolov, from the Russian Far Eastern Institute, warned that in the event of full-scale war "hungry asylum seekers will flood into Russia."

Russia on Wednesday blocked UN Security Council condemnation of Pyongyang's latest missile test - even though China, which has a major frontier with North Korea had backed the strongly-worded statement put forward by the United States.

11 A US pilot gestures from an F-16 jet fighter before taking off during the "Max Thunder" South Korea-US military joint air exercise at a US air base in the southwestern port city of Gunsan Credit: Getty Images

11 The annual drill, involving around 80 aircraft and some 1,500 military personnel, will run until April 28 this year Credit: Getty Images

11 US soldiers stand guard during the "Max Thunder" South Korea-US military joint air exercise Credit: Getty Images

The proposed statement would have demanded that North Korea "conduct no further nuclear tests" and halt missile launches .

Pyongyang carried out a failed test on Sunday.

Russia wanted to include language contained in a previous statement stressing the need to achieve a solution through dialogue, according to council diplomats.

Moscow's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said: "Unfortunately, we have to admit that the risk of a serious conflict in this region has substantially increased."

He called for a "demonstration of responsibility" from all sides to avoid escalation.

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