THE UK needs a like-for-like replacement for Trident, David Cameron has claimed, after warning North Korea could target Britain with its nuclear missiles.

The Prime Minister underlined his support for a direct replacement for Britain's nuclear deterrent during a visit to Scotland which he also used to highlight the strength of Scottish defence industries as part of the UK.

Speaking to workers at defence manufacturer Thales, in Glasgow, he said growing signs of aggression from North Korea were a "good example" of the need to maintain a state-of-the-art nuclear deterrent.

He said: "North Korea does now have missile technology that is able to reach, as they put it, the whole of the United States.If they are able to reach the whole of the US they can reach Europe too, they can reach us too. Now that is a real concern."

He said the actions of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's regime were "worrying and threatening" and the country had "extremely dangerous" weapons.

He spoke out after North Korea's military warned it has been authorised to attack the US using "smaller, lighter and diversified" nuclear weapons in the latest of a series of aggressive moves from Pyongyang.

The SNP's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon dismissed the Prime Minister's claims. She said: "Trident isn't the answer to the threats we face as a country.

"It diverts resources from conventional defence and the vast amounts of money spent on Trident and its replacement would be far better spent on other priorities."