{"id":309199,"date":"2017-04-09T06:48:05","date_gmt":"2017-04-09T06:48:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=309199"},"modified":"2017-04-09T06:48:05","modified_gmt":"2017-04-09T06:48:05","slug":"us-warships-deployed-to-korean-peninsula","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/04\/us-warships-deployed-to-korean-peninsula\/","title":{"rendered":"US warships deployed to Korean peninsula"},"content":{"rendered":"
The US military has ordered a navy strike group to move towards the Korean peninsula, amid growing concerns about North Korea’s missile programme.<\/p>\n
The Carl Vinson Strike Group comprises an aircraft carrier and other warships.<\/p>\n
US Pacific Command described the deployment – now heading towards the western Pacific – as a prudent measure to maintain readiness in the region.<\/p>\n
President Trump has said the US is prepared to act alone to deal with the nuclear threat from North Korea.<\/p>\n
“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,” US Pacific Command spokesman Dave Benham said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The strike group comprises the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, two guided-missile destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser.<\/p>\n
As well as massive striking power, the carrier group has the capability to intercept ballistic missiles.<\/p>\n
It was originally due to make port calls in Australia but instead has been diverted from Singapore to the west Pacific – where it recently conducted exercises with the South Korean Navy.<\/p>\n
North Korea has carried out several nuclear tests and experts predict more could be in the offing as the country moves closer towards developing a nuclear warhead with a big enough range to reach the US.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday North Korea test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile from its eastern port of Sinpo into the Sea of Japan.<\/p>\n
The test – condemned by Japan and South Korea – came on the eve of a visit by China’s President Xi Jinping to the US to meet President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
The two leaders discussed how to rein in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes as the US steps up the pressure on China, a historic ally of Pyongyang, to help reduce tension.<\/p>\n
China has however been reluctant to isolate its neighbour, fearing its collapse could spawn a refugee crisis and bring the US military to its doorstep.<\/p>\n