SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) — South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said on Monday (April 10) the U.S. Navy’s decision to redirect its Carl Vinson strike group to near the Korean peninsula is an indication of the seriousness of the situation in the area.
A U.S. Navy strike group that includes a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is headed to near the Korean peninsula on Monday, diverted from a scheduled destination of Australia, as concerns grew about a nuclear test by the North this week.
North Korea has invited a large number of foreign media representatives to Pyongyang this week, likely to cover the so-called “Day of the Sun” birth anniversary on April 15 of the state founder Kim Il Sung.
The North is seen to be ready to conduct its sixth nuclear test at any time, with movements detected by satellites at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site.
