8.25am: US satellites spy North Korea missile preparations
North Korea has moved a mobile missile launcher, a senior US defence official has said, possibly indicating that an intercontinental ballistic missile launch is imminent.
US spy satellite spotted the hermit state moving the launcher into position, CNN reported, as the war of words between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un continues to escalate.
The official reportedly said that Kim’s latest actions are not directly related to his threat to strike Guam.
4am: Kim Jong-un holds back on plans to strike near Guam
Kim Jong-un has ordered his army to “be ready to strike at all times” after he received a report from his military chiefs on a plan to launch missiles towards the US territory of Guam, state media reported.
The despotic leader also warned Donald Trump that the US should make “the right choice” to prevent a war.
Kim claimed he will “watch the actions of the US a little bit more” after the US President promised “fire and fury” on the hermit kingdom if they threaten US citizens again, KCNA reported.
10pm: US may push for further sanctions against North Korea
The United States could push for further sanctions against North Korea, this time targeting Pyongyang's textile exports and supplies of oil to the government, according to diplomats.
The UN Security Council unanimously strengthened sanctions on North Korea on August 5 for the eighth time since 2006.
Diplomats say about £1.54 billion ($2 billion) more in exports could be blacklisted as part of efforts to cut off funding for Pyongyang's ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs.
9.20pm: US Defense Secretary says a North Korea missile launch directed at the United States ‘could escalate into war’
On North Korea's threats on Guam, Jim Mattis said: “If they do that it’s game on; We’ll take it out."
He continued: “We will defend the [US] from any attack, at any time, from any quarter.
“You don’t shoot at people in this world -- unless you want to bear the consequence.”
8.25pm: Senior US national security officials say conflict with North Korea not 'imminent' - but risk is much higher now
CIA Director Mike Pompeo and Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, Donald Trump's national security adviser, say that while a military confrontation with North Korea is not imminent, they claim the possibility of war is greater today than it was a decade ago.
They added that the Trump administration is 'prepared to deal militarily with North Korea, if necessary'.
7.54pm: China could attack the US if it strikes North Korea first
An Asian expert believes that China could pull the trigger on the United States, of the US makes the first move on North Korea.
Daniel Ten Kate, Bloomberg’s Asia editor, said: “China has supported United Nations sanctions, they don’t want Pyongyang to be shooting off missiles, having nuclear tests or doing anything that could destabilise the situation and lead to war.
“At the same time, they want the US and South Korea to step back as well.
There were editorials in the state-run Chinese newspaper saying if North Korea fires off a missile at the US we will stay neutral, but if the US comes and attacks North Korea, we’re going to defend the regime.”
2.30pm: North Korea warns war would ’spread into nuclear war
North Korea reiterated its threats with its official KCNA news agency saying "war cannot be blocked by any power if sparks fly due to a small, random incident that was unintentional".
"Any second Korean War would have no choice but to spread into a nuclear war," it said in a commentary.
2pm: Photos reveal America and Japan war games
US and Japanese tanks have been photographed taking part in a joint exercise in Eniwa, on the northern island of Hokkaido in Japan.
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