North Korea is 'too dangerous to ignore', warns US amid rising tensions

The United States issued an ultimatum to North Korea early today after the rogue regime threatened to sink an American aircraft carrier sent to the region in response to rising tensions between the two countries.

The Pentagon called on the Pyongyang government to “refrain from provocative, destabilising actions and rhetoric” and return to “serious talks” with the international community about it’s nuclear ambitions.

Washington also made it clear that it considered North Korea’s “unlawful weapons programmes represent a clear, grave threat to US national security.”

“Provocations from North Korea have grown far too common and far too dangerous to ignore,’ a US State Department spokesperson added. “We do not seek military conflict, nor do we seek to threaten North Korea. However, we will respond to threats to us or our allies accordingly.”

The war of words ratcheted up after the North Koreans warned yesterday that they were ready to take out USS Carl Vinson, an aircraft carrier ordered into waters off the Korean peninsula by President Trump, with “a single strike.”

Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North Korean government’s Central Committee, said in an editorial that the country is ready to illustrate its “military force” by sinking the “nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.”

The newspaper claimed Pyongyang has weaponry that “can reach continental US and Asia Pacific region” and the “absolute weapon,” a hydrogen bomb.

Worried that the crisis was escalating, China’s President Xi Jinping called for “restraint” when dealing with North Korea during a telephone call with Mr Trump yesterday.

China’s official broadcaster CCTV quoted Mr Xi as telling the US president that his government strongly opposes North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme, which is in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, and hoped ‘all parties’ will avoid aggravating the situation.’

The Trump administration has warned that all options, including a military strike, are “on the table” to halt North Korea’s attempts to develop a nuclear-tipped missile that could reach the US mainland.

The phone call, which took place Monday morning Beijing time, came amid speculation that Pyongyang could hold a sixth nuclear test this week.

Mr Trump has pressed his Chinese counterpart to exert greater pressure against North Korea, given China’s status as the country’s sole economic lifeline and major ally.

Adding to the tensions, North Korea detained a Korean-American man in his fifties on Saturday, bringing the total number of US citizens held by Pyongyang to three.

The man, Tony Kim, had been in North Korea for a month teaching accounting at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, He was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People’s Army on Tuesday.

In the past, it has used important anniversaries to test its weapons. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.