World War 3 fears: Russian troops in huge military drills amid US and North Korea tensions

Tank and artillery commands trapped a mock enemy into a “fire pocket” earlier this week, destroying it in tactical drills, Russia Today reports.

Active training exercises by the Russian military have increased by a quarter in the past year, amid criticism from NATO.

Military activity on the borders, often taking place at night, has been called a smokescreen for an “invasion” of neighbouring former Soviet nations.

As well as destroying armoured vehicles and practising armed combat, troops infiltrate mock enemy reconnaissance groups and train in urban warfare.

The tank drills were conducted in tandem with the Belarussian armed forces.

More drills will now continue in other regions of Russia.

The war games take place amid escalating tensions in South East Asia as North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un continues to threaten World War 3.

The hot-headed dictator has already conducted 24 missile tests and one nuclear test in the last seven months, threatening stability in the region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is at odds with other world leaders in discouraging sanctions against North Korea.

Instead of bringing Kim’s nuclear programme to an end, the proposed sanctions could cause millions of North Koreans to “suffer”, he said in September.

He has also condemned the United States and North Korea for their war-mongering rhetoric over the crisis.

While Donald Trump has shrugged off the possibility of carrying out negotiations with Pyongyang and has even shot down efforts by Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, to negotiate with North Korea.

The US President stated that his colleague is “wasting his time trying to negotiate with little rocket man”.

While hermit nation North Korea has called Mr Trump’s tweets a “declaration of war” and threatened to shoot US planes out of the sky.

It has also threatened neighbouring Japan over its former rule over Korea.