North Korea has announced a detailed plan to launch a salvo of ballistic missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam, a major military hub and home to American bombers.

North Korea has moved a missile with “considerable range” to its east coast, South Korea’s defence minister says. But he added that there are no signs that Pyongyang is preparing for a full-scale conflict.

THE United States is basing more heavy bombers near North Korea and will formally protest against the communist nation's "reckless actions" in using MiG fighters to intercept a US surveillance plane, officials said.

The US is considering whether to send fighter jet escorts with reconnaissance planes near North Korea after jets from the country intercepted a surveillance flight and shadowed it for 20 minutes, Pentagon officials said.