US strike group to arrive off Korean peninsula in days amid concerns the North is ramping up for a sixth nuclear test.
North Korea reiterated its vow to launch “full-out war” with nuclear weapons on Saturday as an American naval strike carrier was set to arrive off the tense Korean peninsula in a matter of days.
Tensions between the United States and the North have soared in recent weeks as a series of North Korean missile tests have wrought ever-more bellicose warnings from President Donald Trump ‘s administration about curtailing its nuclear weapons programme.
The US supercarrier Carl Vinson will arrive in the Sea of Japan in days, American Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday, after days of mixed messages from Washington over the warship’s whereabouts.
The strike group was supposedly steaming towards North Korea last week amid concerns the North is ramping up for a sixth nuclear test, with Pyongyang threatening to hit back at any provocation.
North Korea on ‘maximum alert’ after US threats
But the US Navy – which had earlier said the aircraft carrier would sail north from waters off Singapore as a “prudent measure” to deter North Korea, admitted on Tuesday the ships were in fact sent away from Singapore and towards Australia to conduct drills with the Australian navy.
The aircraft carrier will arrive “in a matter of days”, said Pence after the location of the naval strike group became contentious.
US officials have repeatedly warned “all options are on the table” – including military strikes – to curb the North’s nuclear ambitions.
