LONDON – The government of UK Prime Minister Theresa May has reportedly instructed British military forces to draw up plans for a possible military confrontation with North Korea, Press TV has reported.

British military sources told the Daily Mail on Monday that the soaring tensions between North Korea and the West over Pyongyang’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs might force London to bring into service the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier earlier than expected.

“We have plenty of ships to send – the Type-45 destroyers, the Type-23 frigates,” a senior Whitehall source told the British daily. “Britain’s new aircraft carrier could be pressed into service early if things turn south.”

In 1982, the UK rushed aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious into service early for the war with Argentina over the Falkland.

US President Donald Trump said last week that “only one thing will work” against North Korea, once again raising the prospects of a war after nakedly threatening Pyongyang with nuclear force.