By Kang Seung-woo
North Korea threatened Sunday that a nuclear war could erupt on the peninsula following the adoption of a resolution by the United Nations (U.N.) that could lead to its leader Kim Jong-un standing trial for human rights abuses.
"Our army and people categorically deny and reject the resolution on human rights fabricated by the U.S and its allies," the state-controlled Korean Central News Agency said, quoting the National Defense Commission.
"The U.S. and its followers will be wholly accountable for the unimaginable and catastrophic consequences to be entailed by the frantic human rights racket,” it said.
"Does President Park Geun-hye think Cheong Wa Dae will be safe if guns roar aggressively and a nuclear war breaks out on the Korean Peninsula?" it said.
Last week, the Third Committee, which deals with human rights issues, passed a non-binding resolution calling on the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) to refer the issue to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The resolution will be voted on during next month's General Assembly before being passed onto the 15-member UNSC.
On Saturday, Pyongyang protested against the resolution, bashing Washington and Seoul.
Rodong Sinmun say the U.S. launched this human rights campaign in a bid to invent a pretext for starting an invasion, while the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, an organ devoted to dealing with the South, criticized Seoul for helping the United States pass the resolution, describing it a declaration of war.
In response, the South's foreign ministry strongly condemned the North's provocative actions, saying such moves would isolate the North further.
"The South Korean government urges the North to stop its threats and provocations and take substantial measures to improve the human rights of North Koreans," the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
"Although the resolution has already been passed by the Third Committee, the North is aggressively attempting to block or weaken the resolution at the next stage because it is seen as an indignity toward the North Korean regime," said Chang Yong-seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University.
"The vote on the resolution can be linked to the North Korean elite's loyalty to its leader Kim Jong-un, so the country is increasing its fiery words,” Chang said.
He added that the rhetoric is urging the South not to join international cooperation, pressing the North on the issue of human rights.
An Chan-il, the head of the World Institute for North Korea Studies, said, "While undercutting the resolution, it means to send a message to the international community with the chill in relations with the South and China."
The ICC referral requires the consent of nine or more members at the UNSC, including all five permanent members _ the U.S., France, the United Kingdom, Russia and China that can use their veto powers.
"The referral will not be likely because of China and Russia," said An.
China is the North's last-remaining patron, but Russia and North Korea have recently shown signs of forming closer ties.
"After the North it could be China. As for Russia, it is intensifying confrontation with the U.S.," said Chang.