By Park Si-soo
North Korean officials told foreign journalists visiting its capital city Pyongyang on Thursday that the nuclear-armed nation is preparing for "a big and important event," as a U.S. carrier strike group steams toward the Korean Peninsula to head off the North's nuclear test or other military provocation.
Officials gave no details of the "big and important" event, according to Reuters.
The North marks the 105th anniversary of the birth of state founder Kim Il-sung on Saturday and in 2012 launched a long-range rocket carrying a satellite to mark the date. Around 200 foreign journalists are in Pyongyang for North Korea's biggest national day, "Day of the Sun."
U.S. President Donald Trump has diverted the Carl Vinson Strike Group to near the Korean Peninsula -- from a planned port call in Australia -- in a show of force aimed at deterring North Korea from launching another missile. The group is expected to take up to nine days to arrive, U.S. officials have said.
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The unexpected pivoting has spurred speculation that if the North provokes the U.S. with any military action, the strike group will punish it with an attack on North Korea's nuclear facilities, which could lead to a bloody head-on fight between the two Koreas or a three-way battle involving a third country, most likely the U.S.
On Wednesday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged Trump in a phone call to "peacefully resolve" rising tensions over North Korea's nuclear program.
Xi told Trump that China "advocates resolving the issue through peaceful means," according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Xi also told Trump that China remains "willing to maintain communication and coordination with the American side on the issue of the peninsula," according to CCTV.
Trump responded that it was important for the two heads of state to maintain close ties, and that he agreed that the U.S. and China should work together to "expand pragmatic cooperation in a wide range of areas."
South Korean officials said on Thursday there were no new signs to indicate a North Korean nuclear test is more imminent but said the North has maintained a state of readiness to conduct a test at any time.
