Last week's threat against Guam escalated the sharp rhetoric being exchanged between the two sides.

This latest report points to a pause in the increasingly bitter war of words.

What does North Korea's statement really mean?

The report on state news agency KCNA said Kim Jong-un "examined the plan for a long time" and discussed it with senior military officials.

The commander of North Korea's strategic force was now merely waiting for orders "after rounding off the preparations for the enveloping fire at Guam".

But, crucially, the report also added that the North Korean leader would watch the US, before making any decision, signalling an apparent deceleration in the provocative rhetoric.

The BBC's Yogita Limaye in Seoul points out that this latest commentary talks of how to "defuse the tensions and prevent dangerous military conflict on the Korean peninsula".

Our correspondent adds that after days of menacing threats from Pyongyang, it might seem that Kim Jong-un could be in the mood to finally hit the pause button - but in a nation as secretive as North Korea, one can never be sure.

Analysts say it could simply mean Pyongyang is not fully ready to launch an attack on Guam, so could just be buying more time.

What is the latest comment from the US?

The statement came after a stark warning from US Defence Secretary James Mattis that any attack could quickly escalate into war, and if Pyongyang fired a missile towards Guam, "then it's game on."

He told reporters that the US military would defend the country "from any attack, at any time and from any quarter".

He also sought to reassure residents of Guam, home to US military bases and about 160,000 people, that they were well-protected and said that if a missile was fired, "we'll take it out".

What about North Korea's neighbours?

South Korea and China - North Korea's closest ally - have been urging calm and a renewed push for diplomatic resolutions.

On Tuesday South Korean President Moon Jae-in said that the US should not act unilaterally on the Korean peninsula, and that consent was crucial before any military action.

China's foreign ministry on Monday reiterated its "suspension for suspension proposal" where North Korea stops its military tests in exchange for a freeze on military exercises by the US and South Korea.

Chinese state media outlet Global Times also urged South Korea to "act as a buffer" between the North and the US, arguing that China has less influence over Pyongyang than South Korea has on the US.

How did tensions escalate so rapidly?

Over the last year North Korea has stepped up its missile tests, despite repeated warnings from all quarters.

The state had already conducted five nuclear tests, but then in July it launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) claiming it now had the ability to hit the US mainland.

The UN then approved fresh economic sanctions against North Korea to pressure it into giving up its nuclear ambitions. The measures aim to reduce North Korea's export revenues by a third.

Pyongyang reacted furiously to the new sanctions, calling them a "violent violation of our sovereignty" and warning that the US would "pay a price".

Last week, US media reported that North Korea had achieved its goal of making a nuclear warhead small enough to fit inside its missiles.

Although not confirmed, this was seen as one of the final obstacles to North Korea being a fully nuclear-armed state.

It prompted US President Donald Trump to threaten North Korea with "fire and fury" if it continued to threaten the US and its allies.

He added to the forthright rhetoric saying the US nuclear arsenal was "more powerful than ever before" and "locked and loaded".