North Korea recalls key ambassadors to Pyongyang amid missile row

Decision comes amidst escalating tensions between pariah state and US

A North Korean soldiers stands before spectators during a mass military parade at Kim Il-Sung square in Pyongyang (Getty)

Several key North Korean ambassadors have been asked to return to the country’s capital Pyongyang, it has emerged.

Among the top envoys recalled were Ji Jae-ryong, Ja Song-nam and Kim Hyong-jun - ambassadors to China, the UN and Russia - according to South Korean news agency Yonhap News.

A South Korean government official said: “North Korea seems to be hosting what appears to be a meeting of foreign diplomatic missions.”

The number of ambassadors involved is not known, but South Korea believes the gathering could be used to discuss further military provocation by North Korea.

In a press meeting, the Ministry of Unification’s spokesman Baik Tae-hyun said: “North Korea held the 43^rd ambassadors’ meeting in July 2015 and [the most recent meeting] seems to be in line with that.”

Tensions between North Korea and the US have dramatically escalated after a missile test carried out by Kim Jong-un was met with a threat of "fire and fury" by Donald Trump.

North Korea threatened to attack Guam and other US territories in the Pacific region, with a government spokesman saying a strike plan was ready "to put into practise in a multi-current and consecutive way any moment" on Mr Kim's instruction.

The US president indicated that an armed response to the aggression was not off the table.

“Military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded, should North Korea act unwisely. Hopefully Kim Jong-un will find another path,” he tweeted.

Despite the bluster, it is unlikely the two countries will actually go to war. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said there was “no imminent threat” and that “Americans should sleep well at night.”

Experts speaking to The Independent largely agreed with that sentiment, arguing that while the “rhetoric is getting out of control”, it is highly unlikely the exchange of words, no matter how heated, will lead to a military conflict.

Tension in the region tends to reach its peak in March and August, when the US and South Korea undergo joint military exercises to simulate a response to a military invasion by the North.

In August 2016, North Korea threatened a nuclear attack in response to the military exercises between its neighbour and America.