North Korea: US vows sanctions and will activate Thaad system 'within days'

The US says it plans to activate a missile defence system 
in South Korea "within days" and tighten economic
 sanctions against North Korea.

The announcements from the Trump administration come amid rising fears about the North's military advances.

The Thaad system was originally not expected to be in use until late 2017. Many South Koreans oppose it, fearing they will become a target.

North Korea has vowed to conduct more missile and nuclear
tests.

Speaking to members of the US Congress on Wednesday, Adm Harry Harris, commander of the US Pacific Command, said Thaad would be "operational in the coming days to be able to better defend South Korea against the growing North Korea threat".

He has said the system is designed to bring North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "to his senses, not to his knees".

The arrival of the defence equipment at the Seongju site
 on Wednesday was met with protests by locals.

It has also angered China, which fears the system's radar
capabilities will affect its own military security, and that it changes the balance of power in the region.

The Thaad deployment comes at a time of escalated
 fears of military action on the ever-tense Korean peninsula.

After repeated missile tests by North Korea - including a 
failed ballistic missile test on 16 April - and threats of further nuclear tests, US Vice-President Mike Pence warned North Korea not to "test" President Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, a US submarine - the USS Michigan - joined a group of warships in the Korean peninsula led by aircraft carrier the USS Carl Vinson.

North Korea meanwhile threatened to sink the aircraft 
carrier and launch a "super-mighty pre-emptive strike" against what it called US aggression.

After a special briefing for all 100 US senators, top US
 officials announced President Donald Trump's strategy on North Korea.

"The president's approach aims to pressure North Korea
 into dismantling its nuclear, ballistic missile, and proliferation
programs by tightening economic sanctions and pursuing
diplomatic measures with our allies and regional partners," said a joint statement issued by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson,Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats.

The US already has extensive sanctions in place on North Korea, including a blanket ban on trade and a blacklist of anyone dealing with North Korea.

A White House official said an option under consideration
 was to put North Korea back on the state department's list
 of countries that sponsor terrorism.

Under measures announced last year, North Korean government property in America remains frozen and US exports to, or investment in, North Korea are banned.