THESE incredible colour pictures capture the brutal reality of the Korean War for Western troops as tensions escalate between Washington and Pyongyang.

DOUG BANKS/MEDIA DRUM WORLD

The shots, sure to worry Kim Jong-un, show UN forces in action during the devastating conflict, which lasted from 1950-1953.

US soldiers are seen firing bazookas, taking cover behind tanks, and training their sights on enemy forces.

The pictures emerge as North Korea and the US ramp up their war of words.

Defence Secretary Jim Mattis last week said continued aggression from Pyongyang could escalate into war very quickly.

Washington and Pyongyang have stoked fears of nuclear conflict since the North Korean tyrant said he was carefully considering an attack on a US military base on Guam earlier this month.

These stunning images of the Korean war were painstakingly colourised by digital colourist and retiree Doug Banks, from Brighton, UK

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Donald Trump said the hermit kingdom would be met with fire and fury if it maintained its threats.

The photographs will be a stark reminder of the horrors faced in the last Korean conflict.

They reveal images including three grizzled Royal Marines taking cover in a trench with fixed bayonets and a monster M20 rocket launcher.

One weary US marine is shown huddling against the bitter cold, while another bloodied troop tries to find a moment of solitude.

DOUG BANKS/MEDIA DRUM WORLD

US marines and Japanese tanks are taking part in a military exercise on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido as tensions reach breaking point on the Korean peninsular

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Soldiers from Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force take part in a field drill with US Marines during joint military exercises with in Eniwa, Hokkaido prefecture

Another shot captures a US Grunman Panther fighter jet gliding above the Pacific Ocean, as Navy ships sail on below.

Two optimistic gunners of the Royal New Zealand Artillerys 16th Field Regiment are pictured peering out of windows in their makeshift hut.

The stunning images were painstakingly rendered by digital colourist and retiree Doug Banks, from Brighton.

He said: I try to create an accurate historical record using layers of colour as if I were painting on a canvas.

The most important thing is to research the image thoroughly before attempting the colouring.

DOUG BANKS/ MEDIA DRUM WORLD

My aim is to establish the media of colourising black and white images in a way that will earn credibility among the purists who think that black and white photos should remain in that way.

I also want to educate those, particularly youngsters, that otherwise would not be interested in dull black and white images that are gathering dust in museums and private collections.

Earlier this month, Daily Star Online uncovered other pics from the conflict showing wounded American troops on the battlefield.

In June, we also revealed colourised World War Two photos that capture dogfights and RAF heroes with their aircraft.

These stunning images have been published in a new book. The amazing shots show in beautiful detail the battle in the skies as the world battled the genocidal Nazi regime

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USAF pilot Captain Fred Christensen on July 7th 1944 he shot down six enemies in one day

The Korean War began when North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950.

The UN came to the aid of South Korea with US forces providing the bulwark of resistance.

After three years of fighting, an armistice was signed and the Korean Demilitarised Zone separated North and South Korea.

No peace treaty was agreed and the two Koreas are still technically at war.

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Kim's WW3 threat: Rare colour pics show brutal reality of LAST Korean War - Daily Star