North Korea on Friday (Oct 13) slammed the visit of the USS Ronald Reagan, an American aircraft carrier, to a South Korean port.

Pyongyang denounced the move as a significant escalation of preparations by the United States for a potential nuclear conflict.

<h2>'Undisguised military provocation'</h2>

North Korea's state media outlet KCNA condemned the drills, which simulated the interception of North Korean smuggling vessels, calling it an "undisguised military provocation".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-denies-weapon-supply-to-hamas-accuses-us-the-empire-of-evil-of-blame-shifting-646120">North Korea denies weapon supply to Hamas, accuses US 'the empire of evil' of blame-shifting</a>

"The US scheme for nuclear attack on the DPRK and its implementation have reached the most serious phase of systematisation and visualisation," said the KCNA on Friday.

"It is as clear as noonday what result will be brought to the Korean peninsula, where huge armed forces and nuclear weapons are standing in confrontation with one another, even if a spark is produced," it added.

<h2>US carrier in South Korea</h2>

US nuclear-powered carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, is currently stationed in Busan, South Korea, following a recent two-day joint maritime exercise with ships from South Korea and Japan, reports AFP.&nbsp;

The exercise follows the most recent edition of the annual US-South Korean Ulchi Freedom exercises. Pyongyang, as per the news agency, perceives the US-South Korean Ulchi Freedom exercises as a rehearsal for invasion.&nbsp;

Additional drills are scheduled for next week, announced Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-makes-nuclear-weapons-status-part-of-its-constitution-640373">North Korea changes constitution and declares itself&nbsp;a&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;state</a>

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has actively sought to improve historically strained relations with Japan, a former colonial ruler of the country, even as diplomatic efforts remain stalled.&nbsp;

In August, President Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida engaged in a three-way summit hosted by US President Joe Biden at Camp David, where they agreed on a multi-year plan of regular joint exercises.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had previously labelled the burgeoning defence alliance between South Korea, Japan, and the United States as "the worst actual threat, not threatening rhetoric or an imaginary entity" faced by the isolated nation.

(With inputs from agencies)

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North Korea on Friday (Oct 13) slammed the visit of the USS Ronald Reagan, an American aircraft carrier, to a South Korean port. Pyongyang denounced the move as a significant escalation of preparations by the United States for a potential nuclear conflict.

North Korea on Friday (Oct 13) slammed the visit of the USS Ronald Reagan, an American aircraft carrier, to a South Korean port. Pyongyang denounced the move as a significant escalation of preparations by the United States for a potential nuclear conflict. 'Undisguised military provocation' North Korea's state media outlet KCNA condemned the drills, which simulated the interception of North Korean smuggling vessels, calling it an "undisguised military provocation". Also read | North Korea denies weapon supply to Hamas, accuses US 'the empire of evil' of blame-shifting "The US scheme for nuclear attack on the DPRK and its implementation have reached the most serious phase of systematisation and visualisation," said the KCNA on Friday. "It is as clear as noonday what result will be brought to the Korean peninsula, where huge armed forces and nuclear weapons are standing in confrontation with one another, even if a spark is produced," it added. US carrier in South Korea US nuclear-powered carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, is currently stationed in Busan, South Korea, following a recent two-day joint maritime exercise with ships from South Korea and Japan, reports AFP. The exercise follows the most recent edition of the annual US-South Korean Ulchi Freedom exercises. Pyongyang, as per the news agency, perceives the US-South Korean Ulchi Freedom exercises as a rehearsal for invasion. Additional drills are scheduled for next week, announced Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff. Also read | North Korea changes constitution and declares itself a nuclear state South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has actively sought to improve historically strained relations with Japan, a former colonial ruler of the country, even as diplomatic efforts remain stalled. In August, President Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida engaged in a three-way summit hosted by US President Joe Biden at Camp David, where they agreed on a multi-year plan of regular joint exercises. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had previously labelled the burgeoning defence alliance between South Korea, Japan, and the United States as "the worst actual threat, not threatening rhetoric or an imaginary entity" faced by the isolated nation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

North Korea slams US aircraft carrier visit to South Korean port, calls it 'undisguised provocation'

The United States on Wednesday declared North Korea a &quot;primary money laundering concern,&quot; and moved to further block its ability to use the U.S. and world financial systems to fund its weapons programs. 
The U.S. Treasury Department called for a prohibition on certain U.S. financial institutions opening or maintaining correspondent accounts, which are established to receive deposits from or make payments on behalf of a foreign institution, with North Korean financial institutions. 
Crucially, Treasury also prohibited the use of third parties` U.S. correspondent accounts to process transactions for North Korean financial institutions. 
The announcement came days after the latest failed missile launch by the isolated state. Tensions in the region have been high since January when North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test and then followed that with a satellite launch and test launches of various missiles. 
Those efforts have all fueled calls in Washington, and abroad, for a clampdown on Pyongyang. 
U.S. law already generally prohibited U.S. financial institutions from engaging in transactions with North Korean institutions, but Treasury`s latest actions would impose additional controls, especially the prohibitions on the use of third-country banks` U.S. accounts to process transactions for North Korea. 
&quot;This is meaningful,&quot; said Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. &quot;This is designating the entire country, which means essentially that any entity that is interested in interacting with U.S. financial institutions should no longer have any business with North Korea.&quot; 
&quot;Most, if not all, entities, if faced with the choice of having access to the U.S. financial system or doing business with North Korea, are going to make the obvious choice,&quot; Cha added. 
South Korea`s foreign ministry on Thursday welcomed the move, which it said in a statement would boost the effectiveness of existing sanctions on the North and have a broader impact than a 2005 U.S. Treasury measure that targeted a bank in the Chinese territory of Macau. 
About $24 million of North Korean funds was frozen at Macau`s Banco Delta Asia (BDA) after the U.S. Treasury accused it of helping to channel earnings from the North`s illicit activities, leading to a frantic attempt by Pyongyang to retrieve the money. 
The North has since developed tactics to skirt financial restrictions by resorting to informal means to transfer money, including the use of bulk cash hand-carried by officials.&nbsp; 
Adam Szubin, acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said Washington expected other governments and financial authorities to make similar moves to prevent Pyongyang from &quot;abusing&quot; global financial institutions to support its development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. 
&quot;The regime is notoriously deceitful in its financial transactions in order to continue its illicit weapons programs and other destabilizing activities,&quot; Szubin said in a statement. 
The Treasury was required to assess North Korea`s status as a money laundering jurisdiction under the &quot;North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act,&quot; passed nearly unanimously by the U.S. Congress in February. 
A U.N. Security Council resolution in early March also required member states to sever correspondent banking relationships with North Korean financial institutions within 90 days.

The announcement came days after the latest failed missile launch by the isolated state. Tensions in the region have been high since January when North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test and then followed that with a satellite launch and test launches of various missiles.

The United States on Wednesday declared North Korea a "primary money laundering concern," and moved to further block its ability to use the U.S. and world financial systems to fund its weapons programs. The U.S. Treasury Department called for a prohibition on certain U.S. financial institutions opening or maintaining correspondent accounts, which are established to receive deposits from or make payments on behalf of a foreign institution, with North Korean financial institutions. Crucially, Treasury also prohibited the use of third parties` U.S. correspondent accounts to process transactions for North Korean financial institutions. The announcement came days after the latest failed missile launch by the isolated state. Tensions in the region have been high since January when North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test and then followed that with a satellite launch and test launches of various missiles. Those efforts have all fueled calls in Washington, and abroad, for a clampdown on Pyongyang. U.S. law already generally prohibited U.S. financial institutions from engaging in transactions with North Korean institutions, but Treasury`s latest actions would impose additional controls, especially the prohibitions on the use of third-country banks` U.S. accounts to process transactions for North Korea. "This is meaningful," said Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "This is designating the entire country, which means essentially that any entity that is interested in interacting with U.S. financial institutions should no longer have any business with North Korea." "Most, if not all, entities, if faced with the choice of having access to the U.S. financial system or doing business with North Korea, are going to make the obvious choice," Cha added. South Korea`s foreign ministry on Thursday welcomed the move, which it said in a statement would boost the effectiveness of existing sanctions on the North and have a broader impact than a 2005 U.S. Treasury measure that targeted a bank in the Chinese territory of Macau. About $24 million of North Korean funds was frozen at Macau`s Banco Delta Asia (BDA) after the U.S. Treasury accused it of helping to channel earnings from the North`s illicit activities, leading to a frantic attempt by Pyongyang to retrieve the money. The North has since developed tactics to skirt financial restrictions by resorting to informal means to transfer money, including the use of bulk cash hand-carried by officials. Adam Szubin, acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said Washington expected other governments and financial authorities to make similar moves to prevent Pyongyang from "abusing" global financial institutions to support its development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. "The regime is notoriously deceitful in its financial transactions in order to continue its illicit weapons programs and other destabilizing activities," Szubin said in a statement. The Treasury was required to assess North Korea`s status as a money laundering jurisdiction under the "North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act," passed nearly unanimously by the U.S. Congress in February. A U.N. Security Council resolution in early March also required member states to sever correspondent banking relationships with North Korean financial institutions within 90 days.

US takes more steps to block North Korea's access to financial system

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North Korea slams US aircraft carrier visit to South Korean port, calls it 'undisguised provocation'

US takes more steps to block North Korea's access to financial system