North Korea is «ready to sink» a US aircraft carrier heading for the peninsula, state media have said.
A commentary in the Rodong Sinmun newspaper warned that the USS Carl Vinson could be sunk «with a single strike».
A battle group headed by the Vinson is expected off the peninsula this week.
It was despatched by President Donald Trump amid a warning that US «strategic patience» over the North’s nuclear ambitions had come to an end.
Tension also rose after a recent failed missile test by the North and a massive military parade showing off its latest hardware.
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Sunday’s commentary in Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the ruling Workers’ Party, followed a feature on leader Kim Jong-un’s inspection of a pig farm.
«Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a single strike,» the commentary read, saying that the attack on what it called a «gross animal» would be «an actual example to show our military’s force».
State newspaper Minju Joson echoed this, warning the army would «deal merciless destructive blows at the enemies so that they would not come back to life again».