Tensions escalate in the North Korea crisis with a threat to shoot down US planes.

Source: SBS

The White House has hit back at threats by North Korea to shoot US planes in the region out of the sky.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho says Donald Trump has declared war on the country and it is prepared to take defensive action.

But White House spokewoman Sarah Huckerbee-Sanders says it's absurd to suggest the President's controversial speech to the United Nations last week amounted to a declaration of war.

She's hit out at North Korea over its latest threats.

Earlier - days after speaking to the United Nations - Foreign Minister Ri called an impromptu media conference outside his hotel in New York, outlining the so-called "defensive actions" his country was prepared to take.