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 43rd 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.

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