SEOUL/JAPAN: A North Korean state agency threatened on Thursday to use nuclear weapons to 鈥渟ink鈥� Japan and reduce the US to 鈥渁shes and darkness鈥� for supporting a UN Security Council resolution and sanctions over its latest nuclear test.
Pyongyang鈥檚 Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, which handles the North鈥檚 external ties and propaganda, also called for the breakup of the Security Council, which it called 鈥渁 tool of evil鈥� made up of 鈥渕oney-bribed鈥� countries that move at the order of the US.
鈥淭he four islands of the archipelago should be sunken into the sea by the nuclear bomb of Juche. Japan is no longer needed to exist near us,鈥� the committee said in a statement carried by the North鈥檚 official KCNA news agency.
Juche is the North鈥檚 ruling ideology that mixes Marxism and an extreme form of go-it-alone nationalism preached by state founder Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of the current leader, Kim Jong Un.
Regional tensions have risen markedly since the reclusive North conducted its sixth, and by far its most powerful, nuclear test on September 3.
The 15-member Security Council voted unanimously on a US-drafted resolution and a new round of sanctions on Monday in response, banning North Korea鈥檚 textile exports that are the second largest only to coal and mineral, and capping fuel supplies.
The North reacted to the latest action by the Security Council, which had the backing of veto-holding China and Russia, by reiterating threats to destroy the US, Japan and South Korea.
鈥淟et鈥檚 reduce the US mainland into ashes and darkness. Let鈥檚 vent our spite with mobilization of all retaliation means which have been prepared till now,鈥� the statement said.
Japan鈥檚 Nikkei stock index and dollar/yen currency pared gains, although traders said that was more because of several Chinese economic indicators that were released on Thursday rather than a reaction to the North鈥檚 latest statement.
South Korea鈥檚 won also edged down around the same time over domestic financial concerns.
The North鈥檚 latest threats also singled out Japan for 鈥渄ancing to the tune鈥� of the US, saying it should never be pardoned for not offering a sincere apology for its 鈥渘ever-to-be-condoned crimes against our people鈥�, an apparent reference to Japan鈥檚 wartime aggression.
It also referred to South Korea as 鈥渢raitors and dogs鈥� of the US.
Japan criticized the North鈥檚 statement harshly.
鈥淭his announcement is extremely provocative and egregious. It is something that markedly heightens regional tension and is absolutely unacceptable,鈥� Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference on Thursday.
North Korea had already categorically rejected the Security Council resolution imposing sanctions over its latest test, vowing to press ahead with its nuclear and missile programs in defiance of international pressure.
A tougher initial US draft of Monday鈥檚 resolution was weakened to win the support of China and Russia. Significantly, it stopped short of imposing a full embargo on oil exports to North Korea, most of which come from China.
The latest sanctions also make it illegal for foreign firms to form commercial joint ventures with North Korean entities.