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North Korea: Pentagon addresses confusion over strike group | North Korea: Pentagon addresses confusion over strike group |
(about 17 hours later) | |
US defence chiefs have been clarifying the whereabouts of warships that President Trump erroneously suggested last week were sailing for North Korea. | US defence chiefs have been clarifying the whereabouts of warships that President Trump erroneously suggested last week were sailing for North Korea. |
US Defence Secretary James Mattis said the USS Carl Vinson strike group is now proceeding to the Western Pacific. | US Defence Secretary James Mattis said the USS Carl Vinson strike group is now proceeding to the Western Pacific. |
The ship is part of what President Trump said last week was an "armada" being deployed off North Korea amid tensions over its nuclear plans. | The ship is part of what President Trump said last week was an "armada" being deployed off North Korea amid tensions over its nuclear plans. |
But the vessels were heading the other way for training with Australia's navy. | But the vessels were heading the other way for training with Australia's navy. |
South Korean media were furious, with one newspaper headline blaring, "Trump's Carl Vinson lie". | |
Joongang Daily likened the controversy to alleged "fake missiles" paraded through North Korea's capital. | |
Seeking to clear up confusion on Wednesday, the Pentagon chief said he wanted "to be open about what we're doing". | Seeking to clear up confusion on Wednesday, the Pentagon chief said he wanted "to be open about what we're doing". |
Speaking in Saudi Arabia, Mr Mattis said: "We're doing exactly what we said we're going to do. She will be on her way. | Speaking in Saudi Arabia, Mr Mattis said: "We're doing exactly what we said we're going to do. She will be on her way. |
"And I'll determine when she gets there and where she actually operates - but the Vinson is going to be part of our ensuring that we stand by our allies in the north-west Pacific." | "And I'll determine when she gets there and where she actually operates - but the Vinson is going to be part of our ensuring that we stand by our allies in the north-west Pacific." |
The confusion began on 9 April when the US Navy said the Carl Vinson strike group was travelling from Singapore to the Western Pacific. | The confusion began on 9 April when the US Navy said the Carl Vinson strike group was travelling from Singapore to the Western Pacific. |
Two days later, President Trump said in an interview with Fox Business: "We are sending an armada, very powerful" towards the Korean peninsula. | Two days later, President Trump said in an interview with Fox Business: "We are sending an armada, very powerful" towards the Korean peninsula. |
His remark stoked fears across East Asia that the US was poised for a pre-emptive military strike. | His remark stoked fears across East Asia that the US was poised for a pre-emptive military strike. |
But rather than heading north to the Sea of Japan, on 13 April the Vinson was travelling in the opposite direction, south towards Australia, for a scheduled weekend exercise with that country's navy. | But rather than heading north to the Sea of Japan, on 13 April the Vinson was travelling in the opposite direction, south towards Australia, for a scheduled weekend exercise with that country's navy. |
A US Navy photo dated 15 April showed the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier heading through the Sunda Strait into the Indian Ocean. | A US Navy photo dated 15 April showed the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier heading through the Sunda Strait into the Indian Ocean. |
The Vinson battle group is not expected to reach the Korean peninsula until next week. | The Vinson battle group is not expected to reach the Korean peninsula until next week. |
Questioned on Wednesday at the daily White House briefing, press secretary Sean Spicer insisted the administration did not mislead anyone. | Questioned on Wednesday at the daily White House briefing, press secretary Sean Spicer insisted the administration did not mislead anyone. |
"The president said we have an armada that's going toward the peninsula," Mr Spicer told reporters. "That's a fact, it happened. It is happening, rather." | "The president said we have an armada that's going toward the peninsula," Mr Spicer told reporters. "That's a fact, it happened. It is happening, rather." |
The BBC's Korea correspondent, Stephen Evans, says it is not clear whether the mix-up was a deliberate deception, perhaps designed to frighten North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, a change of plan or simple miscommunication. | The BBC's Korea correspondent, Stephen Evans, says it is not clear whether the mix-up was a deliberate deception, perhaps designed to frighten North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, a change of plan or simple miscommunication. |
But some questioned why the timeline was not corrected earlier given the tensions involving nuclear-armed North Korea. | But some questioned why the timeline was not corrected earlier given the tensions involving nuclear-armed North Korea. |
On Tuesday, the Pentagon's chief spokeswoman, Dana White, conceded: "This should have been communicated more clearly at the time." | On Tuesday, the Pentagon's chief spokeswoman, Dana White, conceded: "This should have been communicated more clearly at the time." |
Some Chinese have taken to social media to tease the US. | Some Chinese have taken to social media to tease the US. |
"American imperialism is a paper tiger," said one user on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. | "American imperialism is a paper tiger," said one user on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. |
"The aircraft carrier was sleep-walking," joked another. | "The aircraft carrier was sleep-walking," joked another. |
Timeline of recent tensions | Timeline of recent tensions |