The images capture South Korea’s military preparing for conflict amid concern Pyongyang is preparing a fresh missile launch.
Troops and K-55 self-propelled howitzers, which can take out nuclear shells, have also been spotted near the North Korea border zone.
Despite the large number of tanks on the move, Seoul has claimed the show of power is simply “routine”.
But satellite images of its war-mongering neighbour’s launch site appear to show Pyongyang is gearing up for a new blast.
It comes despite both states agreeing to hold talks next week over Kim Jong-un’s nuclear dream.
Kim said he was ready to talk in a New Year’s speech to his hermit state this week.
But the US and Japan have both warned the regime could be bluffing as it pursues its goal of nuclear weapons.
A meeting between officials from the North and South will take place on Tuesday, the first such sit-down for two years.
The meeting will take place at the border truce village of Panmunjom where officials from both sides are expected to discuss the Winter Olympics.
That tournament is being held in the South, and there have been concerns Pyongyang could put the event at risk.
Kim opened the way for talks in a speech calling called for reduced tensions and flagging the hermit state’s possible participation in the Winter Olympics.
But Kim remained steadfast on the issue of nuclear weapons.
He said the North would mass-produce nuclear missiles for operational deployment and warned he would launch a nuclear strike if his country was threatened.
In an interview with CNN on Friday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned that while it was Washington’s aim to resolve the North Korean crisis diplomatically, “those diplomatic efforts are backed by a strong military option if necessary.”
He said future talks involving the US could allow North Korea to “chart a way for themselves to a more secure future, a more prosperous future”
Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera sounded a note of caution.
He said: “I think what is important is to maintain a firm defence posture. “North Korea goes through phases of apparent dialogue and provocation, but either way, North Korea is continuing its nuclear and missile development.
“We have no intention of weakening our warning and surveillance.”