The U.S. Navy strike group has been sent into the Korean peninsula in order to boost defences and provide a more physical presence in the area.
Commander Dave Benham, spokesman at US Pacific Command said of the actions: “US Pacific Command ordered the Carl Vinson Strike Group north as a prudent measure to maintain readiness and presence in the Western Pacific.”
“The number one threat in the region continues to be North Korea, due to its reckless, irresponsible and destabilising programme of missile tests and pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability.”
The group was based in Singapore and was originally headed to Australia, but following North Korea’s testing of a liquid-fuelled ballistic missile.
The country’s leader Kim Jong Un repeatedly indicating that an intercontinental ballistic missile test could soon be attempted – they were instead sent to the Western Pacific Ocean.
Experts believe that the missiles tested so far have only reached a fraction of their potential distance covered, and some officials believe that the international tests could happen as soon as 15 April.
This may be seen as a way to celebrate the 105th birthday of the regime’s first supreme leader Kim Il Sung, which is celebrated annually as The Day of the Sun.
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