(ZHE) According to a report by South Korea’s primary news outlet, Yonhap, the Pentagon has directed a total of three U.S. aircraft carriers toward the Korean Peninsula, citing a South Korean government source.

Yonhap reports that in addition to the CVN-70 Carl Vinson, which is expected to arrive off the South Korean coast on April 25, the CVN-76 Ronald Reagan and the CVN-68 Nimitz carrier group will enter the Sea of Japan next week. According to the senior government official, the U.S. and South Korea are discussing joint drills, which will include the three aircraft carriers and other ships.

USS Carl Vinson, surrounded by a fleet of US warships, was sent by Washington toward the Korean Peninsula in the beginning of April.

While details are scarce, and we would urge confirmation from U.S.-based sources, Yonhap also reports that according to the government source, the operation of three aircraft carriers in the same location is unusual, and demonstrates the U.S. commitment to North Korea. Other sources said the Trump administration is demonstrating deterrence by acting on its behalf. “We expect it to be completely different from the previous administration.”

On Sunday, Pyongyang tried to launch an unidentified projectile, but the test reportedly failed. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) stated that the attempted launch was conducted from the area near North Korea’s eastern port city of Sinpo, but likely ended in a failure.

The most recent map showing key US naval deployments around the globe is shown below.

By Tyler Durden / Republished with permission / Zero Hedge / Report a typo