US President Donald Trump has again made separate telephone calls from the White House to the leaders of Japan and China to discuss concerns about North Korea. <br/><br/>The 30-minute call between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was meant to increase pressure on Pyongyang not to engage in further provocative actions, but was not prompted by any significant change in the situation, according to officials in Tokyo. <br/><br/>Abe also said he and Trump agreed that a larger role in dealing with Pyongyang should be played by China. Trump subsequently spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping about North Korea, according to the official Xinhua news agency. <br/><br/>The Chinese President, on the call today, said he hopes all sides avoid doing anything to worsen the tense situation on the Korean peninsula, according to the news agency. US officials have repeatedly said all options remain on the table to deal with further North Korean provocations. <br/><br/>The conversations between Trump and two of his counterparts in Asia today morning took place as a US Navy strike force, led by the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, is approaching the Korean peninsula. Officials in Seoul announced today the USS Carl Vinson is scheduled to hold a joint training exercise with South Korean naval ships.<br/>'<br/>Meanwhile, North Korea has said that Pyongyang is ready to sink a US aircraft carrier heading for the peninsula, state media have said.