(VOVworld) - South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Thursday ordered the military to maintain a full readiness posture against "highly possible" provocations by the North ahead of its key anniversaries this month.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observed a military drill on April 13 (Photo: Yonhap/ VNA)

Mr. Hwang made the remarks during a visit to the Army's Special Warfare Command, which he touted as a core war-fighting force capable of retaliating "strongly and decisively" if provoked. Mr. Hwang said the possibility is high that Pyongyang will press ahead with its strategic provocations intended to bring domestic and international attention to its key internal events.

In another development, North Korea denounced the United States on Thursday for bringing "huge nuclear strategic assets" to the Korean peninsula as a US aircraft carrier group headed to the region amid concerns the North may conduct a sixth nuclear weapon test. The US sent a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to waters near the Korean Peninsula after receiving information that North Korea might conduct a new nuclear test to mark the 105^th birth anniversary on April 15 of leader Kim Il-sung and the 85^th anniversary on April 25 of the founding of the Korean People’s Army.