The UK must “step up” to deal with North Korea as it is on the path to developing missiles that could strike London, the Defence Secretary warned today, Evening Standard reported.

In an exclusive interview with the Standard, Gavin Williamson stressed that the pariah regime was a “massive threat” and a “real danger” to the UK.

The UK would “never hesitate to deal with aggression and threats”, he added. Two Royal Navy warships are heading to join operations with the American fleet and other allies in the region.

Hours after Donald Trump warned of the “nuclear menace” posed by the East Asian country’s supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, Mr Williamson said: “North Korea is a massive threat. They are a real danger to this country. They are currently on the pathway to have ballistic missiles that could strike London.

“This is not just a problem for the United States. This is a global problem. Britain has to step up in terms of dealing with it.

“There are threats emerging right around the world. Britain is a global player, it’s a world player. We will never hesitate to deal with aggression and threats.”