North Korea 'ready to fight any kind of war with the US'

orth Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has taken his sabre-rattling up a notch after today announcing that his communist dictatorship is prepared for the eventuality of war with the US.

In a rare public appearance, part of mass celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party, Kim said North Korea was "ready to fight any kind of war waged by the US."

"Iron spirit and the united forces of our army and people have enabled us to break through the imperialists' sanctions and isolation, are forcing the enemies to extreme anxiety and fear,” said the North Korean leader in a speech packed with fiery rhetoric, delivered after he had walked down a red carpet and saluted his honour guard.

"The party's revolutionary armament means we are ready to fight any kind of war waged by the US imperialists."

The speech was followed by a march-past by thousands of soldiers, tanks and missile carriers in the city of Pyongyang's main square.

The event was intended to showcase North Korea's military prowess, is asserting it is a military power to be reckoned with.

The leader of the pariah state had spoken of "cutting-edge" weaponry suitable for modern warfare when it announced its plan for the anniversary parade earlier this year.

Joining Kim was senior Chinese Communist Party official Liu Yunshan. China is North Korea's chief ally and main trading partner, despite ties becoming strained over North Korea's nuclear programme. Kim avoided mentioning the country's nuclear programme directly today.

North Korea's nuclear programme has long been a concern in the region, with the United Nations imposing sanctions for its nuclear weapons and rocket programmes.Washington believes that North Korea now possess the capacity to launch a nuclear weapon.

Last month, Pyongyang announced the reactivation of its main nuclear facility at Yongbyon, also claiming that it was improving its nuclear weapons "in quality and quantity".

North and South Korea technically remain at war because the 1950 - 1953 conflict between the two ended in a truce. No peace treaty was ever signed.