PYONGYANG: North Korea warned the United States to end its 鈥渕ilitary hysteria鈥� on Saturday or face retaliation as a US aircraft carrier group steamed toward the region amid fears the North may conduct a sixth nuclear weapons test.
Hundreds of military trucks carrying cheering and singing people headed for a parade marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of the country鈥檚 founding father, celebrations that coincide with the latest threat by the reclusive state against the United States and President Donald Trump.

Concern has grown since the US Navy fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield last week in response to a deadly gas attack. That raised questions about Trump鈥檚 plans for North Korea, which has conducted missile and nuclear tests in defiance of UN and unilateral sanctions.
鈥淎ll the brigandish provocative moves of the US in the political, economic and military fields pursuant to its hostile policy toward the DPRK will thoroughly be foiled through the toughest counteraction of the army and people of the DPRK,鈥� North Korea鈥檚 KCNA news agency said, citing a spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People鈥檚 Army.
DPRK stands for the official name of North Korea, the Democratic People鈥檚 Republic of Korea.
鈥淥ur toughest counteraction against the US and its vassal forces will be taken in such a merciless manner as not to allow the aggressors to survive.鈥�
It said the Trump administration鈥檚 鈥渟erious military hysteria鈥� has reached a 鈥渄angerous phase which can no longer be overlooked.鈥�
The United States has warned that a policy of 鈥渟trategic patience鈥� with North Korea is over. US Vice President Mike Pence travels to South Korea on Sunday on a long-planned 10-day trip to Asia.
China, North Korea鈥檚 sole major ally and neighbor which nevertheless opposes its weapons program, on Friday again called for talks to defuse the crisis.
鈥淲e call on all parties to refrain from provoking and threatening each other, whether in words or actions, and not let the situation get to an irreversible and unmanageable stage,鈥� Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing.
North Korea on Friday denounced the United States for bringing 鈥渉uge nuclear strategic assets鈥� to the region as the USS Carl Vinson strike group with a flag-ship nuclear-powered aircraft carrier steamed closer, and said it stood ready to strike back.
鈥淭he Trump administration, which made a surprise guided cruise-missile strike on Syria on April 6, has entered the path of open threat and blackmail,鈥� KCNA quoted the military as saying in a statement.
鈥淭he army and people of the DPRK will as ever courageously counter those who encroach upon the dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK and will always mercilessly ravage all provocative options of the US with Korean-style toughest counteraction.鈥�
North Korea, still technically at war with the South after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce but not a treaty, has on occasion conducted missile or nuclear tests to coincide with big political events and often threatens the United States, South Korea and Japan.
Saturday marks the 鈥淒ay of the Sun,鈥� the 105th anniversary of the birth of state founder Kim Il-sung, the grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-un.