The show of naval force by Tokyo comes as concern grows in Japan over the rapid pace of North Korea's ballistic missile development and U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of unilateral action to solve the North Korean problem.
On Wednesday (12 April), US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held a telephone conversation after Trump tweeted that Washington was willing to act alone if China did not cooperate or offer help in containing Pyongyang.
The Korean Peninsula has not been so close to a "military clash" since North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, China's influential state-run tabloid the Global Times said in an editorial.
Trump launched a missile strike on Syria late Thursday while meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
"We will hold the USA wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions", a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said in a report published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.
The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and several accompanying battleships continue to make their way toward the Korean Peninsula.
"This goes to prove that the U.S.' reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase of its scenario", the statement said, referring to the North's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
President Trump, who yesterday said North Korea was "looking for trouble", confirmed the call via his Twitter page today.
North Korean officials told CNN, "We will make the USA fully accountable for the catastrophic consequences that may be brought about by its high-handed and outrageous acts".
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Mr Trump informed South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn in a Saturday telephone call of his summit discussion with Mr Xi. Trump congratulated Xi on his achievements in leading China's development, and the global respect Xi earned in the process.
Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country's founding father and grandfather of current ruler, Kim Jong Un.
Trump tweeted Wednesday: "Had a very good call last night with the President of China concerning the menace of North Korea".
He said he was looking forward to his state visit to China this year. "China isn't really as influential as all that", he said.
Japan, the only country to have ever been on the receiving end of an atomic bomb, is deeply troubled by North Korea's continued pursuit of nuclear weapons.
North Korean state media warned on Tuesday of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression.
Russian Federation slammed U.S. cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base on Friday, calling them an illegal attack on a sovereign state. "So we need stability in that region and I think he has put them clearly on notice".
He said the situation facing the Korean Peninsula was complicated and that all parties should refrain from moves that would escalate the tensions.
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.
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