North Korean state agency threatens to 'sink' Japan, reduce US to 'ashes and darkness'

ANorthKorean state agency threatened on Thursday to use nuclear weapons to "sink" Japan and reduce the United States to "ashes and darkness" for supporting a UNSecurity Council resolution and sanctions over its latest nuclear test.

TheKoreaAsia-Pacific Peace Committee, which handles theNorth's external ties and propaganda, also called for the breakup of the Security Council, which it called "a tool of evil" made up of "money-bribed" countries that move at the order of the United States.

"The 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," the committee said in a statement carried by the North's official KCNA news agency.

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Juche is theNorth's 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 tension has risen markedly since the reclusiveNorthconducted its sixth and by far its most powerful, nuclear test on September 3, following a series of missile tests, including one that flew over Japan.

The 15-member Security Council voted unanimously on a US-drafted resolution and a new round of sanctions on Monday in response, banningNorthKorea's textile exports that are the second largest only to coal and mineral and capping fuel supplies.

TheNorthreacted to the latest action by the Security Council, which had the backing of veto-holding China and Russia, by reiterating threats to destroy the United States, Japan and south Korea.

"Let's reduce the USmainland into ashes and darkness. Let's vent our spite with the mobilization of all retaliation means which have been prepared till now," the statement said.

Japan's Nikkei stock index and dollar/yen currency pared gains, although traders said that was more because of several Chinese economic indicators released on Thursday rather than a reaction to theNorth's latest statement.

SouthKorea's won also edged down around the same time over domestic financial concerns.

Despite theNorth's threats, SouthKorean President Moon Jae-in said he was against having nuclear weapons in his country, either by developing its own arsenal or bringing back U.S. tactical nuclear weapons that were withdrawn in the early 1990s.

"To respond toNorthKoreaby having our own nuclear weapons will not maintain peace on the Korean peninsula and could lead to a nuclear arms race innortheast Asia," Moon said in an interview with CNN.

SouthKorea's Unification Ministry also said it planned to provide $8 million through the U.N. World Food Programme and UNICEF to help infants and pregnant women in theNorth.

The move marks Seoul's first humanitarian assistance for theNorthsince its fourth nuclear test in January 2016 and is based on a longstanding policy of separating humanitarian aid from politics, the ministry said.

TheNorth's latest threats also singled out Japan for "dancing to the tune" of the United States, saying it should never be pardoned for not offering a sincere apology for its "never-to-be-condoned crimes against our people", an apparent reference to Japan's wartime aggression.

It also referred to SouthKoreaas "traitors and dogs" of the United States.

Japan criticised theNorth's statement harshly.

"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 told reporters.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, visiting India, called for strict enforcement of the U.N. resolution, saying the world must force a change.

The 15-member Security Council voted unanimously on a U.S.-drafted resolution and a new round of sanctions againstNorthKoreaon Monday in response to its latest and most powerful test, banningNorthKorea's textile exports that are the second largest only to coal and mineral and capping fuel supplies.

NorthKoreahad already rejected the Security Council resolution, vowing to press ahead with its nuclear and missile programmes.

A tougher initial U.S. draft of Monday's resolution was weakened to win the support of China, the North's lone major ally, and Russia. Significantly, it stopped short of imposing a full embargo on oil exports toNorthKorea, most of which come from China.

The latest sanctions also make it illegal for foreign firms to form commercial joint ventures with NorthKorean entities.

U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed thatNorthKoreawill never be allowed to threaten the United States with a nuclear-tipped missile, but has also asked China to do more to rein in its neighbour. China, in turn, favours an international response to the problem.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the international community had reached a "high consensus" on trying to realise a peaceful solution.

"We urge the relevant directly involved parties to seize the opportunity and have the political nerve to make the correct political choice as soon as possible," Hua told a regular press briefing.

TheNorthaccuses the United States, which has 28,500 troops in SouthKorea, of planning to invade and regularly threatens to destroy it and its Asian allies.

The United States and SouthKoreaare technically still at war withNorthKoreabecause the 1950-53Korean conflict ended with a truce and not a peace treaty.