Kim Jong-Un threatens to turn the US into 'flames and ashes' as he orders more nuclear tests and oversees another ballistic missile launch

• Kim Jong-Un threatens to turn the U.S. and South into 'flames and ashes'
• This week the dictator also oversaw two more ballistic missile launches
• He demanded further nuclear capability tests, according to state-run media

By Corey Charlton for MailOnline

North Korean tyrant Kim Jong-Un has threatened to turn Washington and Seoul into 'flames and ashes' and demanded further nuclear capability tests in his pariah state.

Tensions have intensified on the peninsula with South Korea and the US reportedly engaged in joint 'decapitation strike' exercises designed to simulate wiping out the North's leadership.

In turn, Jong-Un has overseen two short-range ballistic missile tests and ordered more 'nuclear explosion tests to estimate the destructive power' of his 'newly produced nuclear warheads'.

A ballistic rocket is launched during a mobile drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea this week

Kim Jong-Un oversaw the launch and told state media he was ordering further nuclear capability tests

The North Korean leader is pictured watching the missile launch take place this week as tensions between the North and US-allied South escalate

Since the joint drills began Monday, the North has issued daily warnings and statements, talking up its nuclear strike capabilities and threatening its neighbours and the allied US.

Just days after he was photographed posing in front of what state media described as a miniaturised nuclear warhead, Kim also said the weapon required further testing.

Experts are divided as to just how far the North may have gone in shrinking warheads to a size capable of fitting on a ballistic missile - a major step forward in strike capability that would present a heightened threat to South Korea, other countries in the region and, eventually, the US mainland.

According to state news agency KCNA, Thursday's launch of two short-range ballistic missiles, which traversed the eastern part of the country before falling into the Sea of Japan, was part of a nuclear strike exercise.

The aim was to simulate conditions for 'exploding nuclear warheads from the preset altitude above targets in the ports under enemy control,' the agency said.

Watching the exercise, Kim reiterated an earlier threat to launch an immediate nuclear attack if the 'sabre-rattling' South Korea-US drills should harm 'even a single tree or a blade of grass' on North Korean territory.

'I will issue a prompt order to launch attack with all military strike means,' he said.

Military tensions on the divided Korean peninsula have been on the rise since the North carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a long-range rocket launch last month.

South Korea and the United States responded by scaling up their annual joint drills, which Pyongyang has always condemned as provocative rehearsals for invasion.

The North's anger has been fuelled this year by reports that the drills included a 'decapitation strike' scenario in which the North Korean leadership and command structure is taken out at the start of any conflict.

In light of such drills, 'our self-defensive countermeasures should adopt a more preemptive and offensive mode,' Jong-Un said.

A North Korean tank competes in the Korea People's Army (KPA) tank crew competition

Jong-Un (pictured) has described the current U.S. and South Korean military exercises as 'sabre rattling'

A tank rolls over a mound of dirt in the tank crew competition designed to tests drivers' prowess at the controls

The UN Security Council responded to the North's latest nuclear test and rocket launch on January 6 by adopting tough, new sanctions

The UN Security Council responded to the North's latest nuclear test and rocket launch by adopting tough, new sanctions, which Pyongyang condemned as a 'gangster-like' provocation orchestrated by the US.

Reacting to the tyrant's call for more nuclear tests, South Korea said the North Korean leader was being 'rash' and displaying his ignorance of international opinion.

'The international community is imposing strong and comprehensive sanctions and this only goes to prove why they are necessary,' said Unification Ministry Spokesperson Jeong Joon-Hee.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday voiced grave concern over the growing tensions, and urged North Korea to avoid any further 'destabilising acts.'

Jong-Un, however, chose to highlight the need for a diversified nuclear strike force, capable of delivering warheads from the ground, air, sea and underwater.

The North has conducted a number of what is says were successful tests of a submarine launched ballistic missile.

Outside experts have questioned the results of those tests, suggesting Pyongyang had gone little further than a 'pop-up' test from a submerged platform.