Beijing: The first 'Made in China' aircraft carrier was launched in Dalian, China's major northern port closest to North Korea on Wednesday, as the more powerful USS Carl Vinson strike group headed towards Korean waters.

The naval showcase came as tensions over North Korea remained high, and Chinese media expressed concern that Russia was exploiting a rift between Beijing and Pyongyang to "fill the gap" in trade as China tightened sanctions on Kim Jong-un's regime.

Chinese state television showed the unnamed aircraft carrier, which is "conventionally powered", festooned in red ribbons and pushed by tug boats. It is only the second aircraft carrier in China's naval fleet.

The United States has 10 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, and Chinese naval analysts pointed out the technology gap between China and the US would widen when the newest, the USS Gerald Ford, comes into use this year.