NORTH Korea has promised a tough response to any military action by the United States after Washington sent warships to waters off the Korean Peninsula.

The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group have been sent to the region for joint exercises with South Korea.

The re-routing of the aircraft carrier and three guided-missile destroyers and cruisers from Australia was seen as a sign of America’s determination to halt the regime’s nuclear ambitions.

Tensions were already high after ballistic missile launches by the North.

Pyongyang sees the annual “war games” as a dress rehearsal for invasion, while the North’s missile launches violate UN resolutions.

A spokesman for North Korea’s foreign ministry said: “We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions.”

The statement came after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said US missile strikes against a Syrian air base in retaliation for a chemical weapon attack carried a message for any nation operating outside of international norms. He did not specify North Korea, but the context was clear.

Tillerson said: “If you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken.”

The North, formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has long claimed the US is preparing some kind of assault against it, and justifies its nuclear weapons as defensive in nature.

It said in a statement: “This goes to prove that the US’s reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase of its scenario.”

“If the US dares opt for a military action, crying out for ‘pre-emptive attack’ and ‘removal of the head- quarters,’ the DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US.”

US Navy ships are a common presence in the region and are in part a show of force. On Saturday, the Pentagon said a Navy carrier strike group was moving towards the western Pacific Ocean to provide more of a physical presence in the area.

President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, HR McMaster, described the decision to send the carrier group as “prudent”.

Meanwhile, Trump has said he gave Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping an ultimatum at their meeting last week: “Solve the North Korea crisis and you will get a good trade deal.”

Trump made clear his hope that China will pressure its neighbour and close ally to stop its nuclear programme.

Trump tweeted yesterday: “I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the US will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!”

In a second tweet he wrote: “North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! USA.”