Beaking: North Korea is hit by 3.4 magnitude earthquake as Chinese officials claim the tremor is an 'explosion' (Details, pics)

North Korea has been rocked by a 3.4 magnitude earthquake sparking fears the nuclear-obsessed nation may be testing more missiles.

The tremor was detected in the Kilju area in the North Hamgyong province by the South Korean meteorological agency and China's official Xinhua News Agency.

The earthquake was detected at 8.30am GMT at a depth of zero miles, with the Chinese news agency saying it was a 'suspected explosion'.

Recent tremors coming from within North Korea have been due to Kim Jong-un's nuclear tests, the latest of which was earlier this month.

The quake detected today was near one of communist state's nuclear test sites and is roughly the same magnitude as the September 3 earthquake, which turned out to be a nuclear test. The head of nuclear test monitoring agency CTBTO said analysts were pouring over the 'unusual seismic activity of a much small magnitude' in North Korea.

Yet South Korea's weather agency claimed they believed the quake may have been a natural earthquake.

It comes amid growing tensions between the US and North Korea, with Donald Trump using his inaugural speech at the UN earlier this week to take aim at Kim Jong-un and his reckless arms race.

President Trump urged the international community to take a tougher stance against Pyongyang and issued a stern warning that the US would retaliate and 'totally destroy' North Korea if it were to launch an attack on America or its allies.