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China And Russia Send Spy Ships To Watch Over US Armada Heading To North Korea

China And Russia Send Spy Ships To Watch Over US Armada Heading To North Korea

Fleets are sailing.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Over the last week, US President Donald Trump has issued two missile strikes on Syria and Afghanistan.

In the same week, Trump gave China an ultimatum to deal with the threat of North Korea or the US would step in.

Over the weekend, North Korea celebrated the 105th birthday of its founding father, Kim Il-Sung, in a series of events.

There were concerns that the Hermit Kingdom would test a nuclear missile to prove it has the muscle to take on the world.

North Korea did test a non-nuclear missile and it wasn't successful.

A South Korean defence official told CNN that the launch happened in Sinpo, a port city in eastern North Korea.

Sinpo was also the site of a ballistic missile test which took place earlier this month. The missile reportedly fell into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea.

A White House foreign policy adviser said that initial reports seem to show that this most recent launch could have been a medium-range missile. However, US intelligence is still attempting to determine the exact kind.

missiles
missiles

North Korean Army showing off submarine missile. Credit: PA

US Pacific Command said that it tracked a missile launch at around 5:30pm ET.

US Navy Commander Dave Benham added that the missile blew up 'almost immediately', reports Reuters.

The South Korean defence ministry added: "North Korea attempted to test an unidentified type of missile from [its eastern port of] Sinpo." They then said that the launch on Sunday had 'failed'.

Since Trump publicly voiced his concerns about North Korea, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson has been deployed to the region. He has also sent a fleet of submarines which are apparently far more powerful than the carrier.

USS Carl Vinsen
USS Carl Vinsen

The US fleet. Credit: PA

China and Russia have decided to send their own fleets, too

The Telegraph says the ships are 'strengthening warning and surveillance activities in the waters and airspace around the area'.

Beijing and Moscow have teamed up recently to help cool tensions between the US and North Korea, fearing they will be caught in the crossfire.

China's Foreign Ministry has posted a statement on its website saying: "China is ready to coordinate closely with Russia to help cool down as soon as possible the situation on the peninsula and encourage the parties concerned to resume dialogue."

Foreign Minister Wang Yi alarmed the world when he told reporters that conflict could literally break out 'at any moment.'

The USS Carl Vinson is reportedly due to arrive on April 25, which coincides with North Korea celebrating the 85th year since their army was created.

Source: CNN, Telegraph, BBC and Reuters

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: China, USA, North Korea