South Korean President Park Geun-hye has promised a "strong response" to any North Korean aggression - as tensions escalate on the peninsula.

(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT PARK GEUN-HYE SAYING:

"If there is any provocation against South Korea and its people, there should be a strong response in initial combat without any political considerations."

North Korea has issued multiple warnings of attacks on US and South Korean targets - to which the US has responded with a show of military hardware.

At the weekend, thousands of North Koreans held a rally to support the country as it said it was entering a state of war with the South.

North Korea has been angered both by UN sanctions imposed after its nuclear test in February and joint US-South Korea military drills.

But few analysts think the North would risk full-blown conflict.

(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN UNIFICATION MINISTRY SPOKESMAN KIM HYUNG-SEOK SAYING:

"The ideal fut