A U.S. aircraft carrier-led strike group is headed toward the Western Pacific Ocean near the Korean Peninsula, a U.S. defense official announced Saturday.

    Adm. Harry Harris, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command, directed the USS Carl Vinson strike group to sail north to the Western Pacific after departing from Singapore on Saturday, Pacific Command announced.

    The deployment came amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea test-fired another ballistic missile recently, and was viewed as further strengthening of U.S. presence in the region, according to local media reports citing U.S. military officials.

    The strike group, which includes the Nimitz-class aircraft supercarrier USS Carl Vinson as well as several other missile destroyers and missile cruisers, canceled a previously planned port visit to Australia and diverted to the Western Pacific.

    The nuclear-powered, 97,000-ton Vinson, one of 10 active U.S. aircraft carriers, has more than 60 aircraft and about 5,000 personnel.

    The strike group, deployed from San Diego, California, to the Western Pacific since Jan. 5, participated in numerous bilateral exercises with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and South Korean Navy in the past three months.

    It is not uncommon for aircraft carriers to operate in that area, and the United States regularly deploys military assets, such as aircraft, to the region as a show of force. In fact, the Vinson was in South Korea last month for military exercises.

    Just days ago, North Korea launched a Scud extended-range missile, which U.S. officials said exploded in flight. The country also has recently conducted several missile engine tests as it works to improve its ballistic missile technology.

    Earlier this year, North Korea said it had successfully tested a nuclear warhead. Pyongyang claims it is pursuing nuclear weapons to defend itself from what it calls U.S. aggression.

    A Russian official expressed worries yesterday that the deployment of the strike group may push North Korea to respond hastily.

    If Pyongyang sees the deployment as a threat to its security, it may rush into actions in response, said Victor Ozerov, chairman of the Russian Federation Council’s Committee on Defense and Security, according to a RIA Novosti report.

    Ozerov said international law does not prohibit the U.S. navy forces from shipping toward the Korean Peninsula, but its military presence will not be good for maintaining dialogue with Pyongyang.

    It is even possible that the United States could launch sudden strikes against North Korea just as it did to Syria, he added.

    Earlier this year, China called on both North Korea and the United States to tone down tension on the Korean Peninsula — North Korea by suspending its nuclear weapons program and the United States by stopping military exercises with South Korea that inflame the North.(SD-Xinhua)