North Korea on Tuesday condemned the deployment of a nuclear aircraft carrier and its strike group by the United States near the Korean peninsula and warned that the country was prepared to respond to a “pre-emptive strike,” authorities reported.

“If the US dares opt for a military action, crying out for preemptive attack and removal of the headquarters, the DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US” a foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement published by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The statement came after the Pentagon announced Saturday that it was deploying the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and a Navy strike group to waters off the North Korean coast in response to the latest missile provocations by the Pyongyang regime, on April 5.

“We will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms,” the statement added.

Following Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, the US government has called for a tighter approach of dealing with Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile program.

The ministry also highlighted the fact that Washington has analyzed different scenarios for carrying out a preemptive strike at the hermit state or eliminating its leader Kim Jong-un.

“We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions.” the spokesperson said, confirming that “the prevailing grave situation proves once again that (North Korea) was entirely just when it increased in every way its military capabilities for self-defence and pre-emptive attack with a nuclear force as a pivot.”

Tension on the Korean peninsula has been increasing amid suspicions that Pyongyang may be preparing a new missile or nuclear test this month.

North Korea convened its annual parliamentary session on Tuesday to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Kim Jong-un’s transition to power.

In addition, the hermit state will also celebrate the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Kim Il-sung, this Saturday and the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army on April 25.

EFE