North Korea Warns of 'Catastrophic Consequences' After US Deploys Navy Strike Fleet

While there are speculations Beijing may have made a decision to take on a hardline policy against the regime, some North Korea watchers in Seoul say this is part of China's calculated moves.

Former MI6 head John Sawers has said that there needs to be a joint US-China response to deal with North Korea in order to avoid conflict on the peninsula.

In appearances on the Sunday news shows, Tillerson said advances in North Korea's ballistic missile program concerned the USA the most.

President Donald Trump shares a laugh with (clockwise from left) Ms.Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Secretary Tom Price, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Vice President Mike Pence on.

"Most pundits think that whatever happens in Korea, if somebody hits the button, the fighting would be very intense but brief and would lead to massive devastation", Professor John Blaxland said.

The G-7 meeting comes as the United States is sending a Navy carrier strike group toward the Korean Peninsula to provide a physical presence following North Korea's persistent ballistic missile tests. Wu did not speak to reporters.

Reuters was first to report on Saturday that the Navy strike group Carl Vinson, whose flagship is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of that name, will make its way toward the Korean peninsula from Singapore as a show of force after Pyongyang tested a liquid-fueled Scud missile this month. "For the peace and stability of the world, we will also fulfill our historical responsibility", he said.

Compare this to North Korea, which has 700,000 active soldiers, but a whopping 4.5 million reserves.

When it comes to soldiers based on the North Korean border, the U.S. only has about 20,000 troops permanently stationed in South Korea, as well as about 8000 air force personnel and other special forces. McMaster said of the deployment on Fox News Sunday.

China has balked at the deployment, fearing that the system's powerful radar could hurt its strategic security interests.

President Trump has said the U.S. is prepared to act alone to deal with the nuclear threat from North Korea.

The Trump administration is reviewing its policy towards North Korea and has said all options are on the table, including military strikes, but USA officials said non-military action appears to be at the top of the list if any action were to be taken.

"This goes to prove that the USA reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase of its scenario", the North's statement said. There are noticeable differences in the approach and tone toward North Korea adopted by different figures inside the Trump administration.

A senior Japanese military source added: "If the USA military was to attack, there could be a request to Japan for rear-guard logistics support but there has been no talk of such preparations". The North calls the drills preparations for war against it.

South Korea and China also agreed to take measures against North Korea if the country were to carry out another nuclear test or launch an intercontinental ballistic missile.

The reason behind these "military options", such as preemptive attacks on North Korea, is like the one the United States launched on Syria.

The North is seen ready to conduct its sixth nuclear test at any time, with movements detected by satellites at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site.