Where is Guam and what is its military importance?

In its most detailed threat yet against the US, North Korea says it is preparing to launch four Hwasong-12 rockets to land off the Pacific Ocean island of Guam, where thousands of US forces are stationed.

"The Hwasong-12 rockets to be launched by the KPA [Korean People’s Army] will cross the sky above Shimani, Hiroshima and Koichi prefectures of Japan," said Pyongyang. "They will fly for 3,356.7km [2,085 miles] for 1,065 seconds and hit the waters 30-40km [18-25 miles] away from Guam."

The US has warned North Korea its actions could mean the "end of its regime", but it has denounced President Donald Trump's threats of "fire and fury" as being "bereft of reason".

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Plans for the strike are expected to be ready by the middle of August and will then await orders from leader Kim Jong-un.

Where is Guam?

Guam lies about 2,200 miles south-east of North Korea and 4,000 miles west of Hawaii. It measures 210sq-miles and has a population of more than 160,000 residents.

Why is Guam significant?

Guam has a strategic location, lying close China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula. It is also home to the US Andersen Air Force and about 6,000 of its residents are military staff and civilian workers and their families. The Andersen Air Force Base is on the north end of Guam, about 15 miles from the capital Agana, and hosts B52 bombers and fighter jets.

It became a US territory in 1898 and has been a vital asset to Washington. The island's location gives Washington the capability to launch strikes in Asia. Guam also serves an important defensive function, Sky News reports.

"In 2013, the US Army's Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system was deployed to the island - giving Washington the power to shoot down North Korean ballistic missiles," it adds.