SATELLITE images show that North Korea is preparing to trial a deadly new arsenal of submarines which could be capable of launching nuclear missiles towards the US.

The pictures show a new barge in the Nampo Naval shipyard in the west of the secretive state similar to another in the east of the country which has been involved in recent rocket tests.

5 Satellite images show the new barge in North Korea which could be used to launch missiles Credit: Getty Images

5 Despot Kim Jong-un is determined to built a long-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear bomb Credit: Getty Images

Website 38North, which monitors military activity in the communist country, claims the newly-installed barge could be an indication that North Korea is planning to "accelerate its SLBM test program."

Long-range ballistic missiles (ISBMs), and their submarine-housed counterparts (SLBMs), are rockets which can carry nuclear bombs and would be capable of striking the west coast of the US including cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle.

The 68ft barge was most likely bought from abroad and not built in North Korea, reports 38North.

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It is also near-identical to another barge in the Sinpo South shipyard on the other side of hermit kingdom which has been involved in six missile test launches since 2014.

This latest development comes amid fears of despot Kim carrying out another nuclear test despite increasing pressure from US President Trump and ally China.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have reached boiling point in recent weeks, with President Trump ordering a military strike group, including aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, to the region

Last week, North Korea warned it would carry out a nuclear test "at any time and at any location" set by its leadership.

5 The new barge is almost identical to one in the Sinpo South shipyard (pictured) in the east of North Korea Credit: Getty Images

5 Despot Kim has blasted Donald Trump's 'aggression' after the US President ordered a military strike group to the region Credit: Reuters

A spokesman for the North's foreign ministry said Pyongyang was "fully ready to respond to any option taken by the US".

The regime will continue bolstering its "pre-emptive nuclear attack" capabilities unless Washington scrapped its hostile policies, he said in a statement carried by the state-run KCNA news agency.

Kim also showed off his arsenal of heavy artillery with a terrifying display in the biggest military drill in North Korean history last week.

5 US troops set up the missile defence system on a golf course in South Korea Credit: EPA

Hundreds of rockets and field artillery fired a simultaneous barrage of fire to mark his military’s 85th anniversary.

Pictures have also emerged showing a massive US missile defence system deployed on a golf course in South Korea built by the US to shoot down any incoming rockets fired by Kim's maniacal regime.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system was set up by American troops in the southern county of Seongju last week.

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