CHINA has started a series of live-fire drills off the coast of North Korea as the risk of nuclear war between Pyongyang and the US continues to grow.
The exercises are the latest in a number of military drills being conducted by countries in the region.
Earlier this week the US, South Korea, and Japan held joint military exercises as they prepared for any potential conflict with Kim Jong-un.
Last week more than 40 Chinese warships took part in a major exercise in the East China Sea.
Bejing’s latest military action comes amid fears that the country could be preparing to side with North Korea in an upcoming nuclear war.
Military expert Li Jie has warned the drills meant to send a message to the US.
She said at the start of December: “The timing of this high-profile announcement by the PLA is a warning to Washington and Seoul not to provoke Pyongyang any further.”
China has said the exercises are to ”improve combat-readiness and safeguard the country's strategic interests”.
Signs that tensions are increasing between Kim Jong-un’s corrupt regime and President Trump’s America became more evident on Thursday when Pyongyang said plans to impose a naval blockade on the hermit state would be an “extremely dangerous” and “big step” toward nuclear war.
The US is yet to confirm if it plans to go ahead with the blockade.
Russia and China had previously urged the cancellation of Washington’s five day military drills with South Korea and Japan in exchange for North Korea halting its weapons programmes.
Beijing had formally called the idea the "dual suspension" proposal.
The US’s refusal to axe their drills might be responsible for China’s own military exercises.
Recent missile launches from North Korea have proven the rogue nation can travel further than 7000miles.
The communist state has previously threatened to attack the US.
Kim Jong-un has previously criticised Trump for being a “lunatic old man” and said “the US had better make a decisive choice… if it does not want a horrible nuclear disaster and tragic doom."
Meanwhile, the US leader has previously warned he has the “three largest aircraft carriers in the world are appropriately positioned" to face Pyongyang.