North Korea has threatened to sink an American aircraft carrier engaged in joint drills with two Japanese destroyers in the western Pacific Ocean.
The USS Carl Vinson will be joined by the Ashigara and Samidare destroyers in “tactical training” drills near the Philippines, the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force said.
North Korea’s state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun said in an editorial the country is ready to illustrate its “military force” by sinking a “nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a single strike.”
The state newspaper claimed to have weaponry which “can reach continental US and Asia Pacific region” and the “absolute weapon,” hydrogen bomb.
The threat follows a similar one by North Korea on Australia.
The country turned its sights on Australia, after Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said North Korea would be subject to further sanctions.
Meanwhile, US President, Donald Trump had s tated that the Vinson carrier group was being deployed to waters off the Korean Peninsula.
Trump said he was sending “an armada” to Korean waters potentially to deal with threats from North Korea.
The statement came after Pyongyang said it had successfully launched a new ballistic missile.
“We are sending an armada. Very powerful,” Trump told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo.
“We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier. That I can tell you.”
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