North Korea has threatened to use nuclear weapons to destroy Japan and the United States after the countries successfully pushed for fresh United Nations sanctions on Pyongyang.
In a statement, the Korea Asia-Pacific peace committee (KAPPC)- North Korea’s body which deals with the country’s propaganda and external relations- called the UN Security Council, which imposed the sanctions, “a tool of evil” made up of countries in the pocket of the US.
“The four islands of the [Japanese] archipelago should be sunken into the sea by the nuclear bomb of Juche,” the committee said via Korean state news agency KCNA.
Juche refers to the ideology of North Korea, pioneered by state founder Kim Il-sung, father of Kim Jong-il and grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-un.
“Japan is no longer needed to exist near us,” the statement added.
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Last month, Pyongyang launched a missile over Japan, which prompted pressure for even tougher sanctions to be put upon the reclusive nation in punishment for its sixth and largest nuclear test this year.
On Monday, the Security Council passed a US-drafted resolution banning textile exports and restricting shipments of oil products, with the support of North Korea’s only ally China.
Washington had initially demanded a full oil embargo on Pyongyang and a freezing of Kim Jong-un’s foreign assets but these demands were later dropped.
In response, the KAPPC threatened to “reduce the US mainland into ashes and darkness”.
“Let’s vent our spite with mobilisation of all retaliation means which have been prepared till now,” it added.
The statement also described South Korea as “traitors and dogs” of the US.
Japan responded to the statement on Thursday, criticising the North for increasing tensions in the Asia Pacific region.
“This announcement is extremely provocative and egregious. It is something that markedly heightens regional tension and is absolutely unacceptable,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.
Despite the threat of war on the Korean peninsula, South Korea’s president Moon Jae-in said he would not support having nuclear weapons in his own country.
“To respond to North Korea by having our own nuclear weapons will not maintain peace on the Korean peninsula and could lead to a nuclear arms race in northeast Asia,” Mr Moon told CNN on Thursday.
South Korea also said it was considering providing the North with $8 million (Dh29.3m) in humanitarian aid via the UN World Food Programme and UNICEF.
