NORTH Korea says the Korean peninsula is headed for "thermonuclear" war and advised foreigners in South Korea to consider evacuation, in the latest in a series of apocalyptic threats.
The warning on Tuesday followed a similar evacuation advisory the North gave Friday to foreign embassies in its capital Pyongyang, saying it could not ensure the safety of their personnel if a conflict broke out.
"The situation on the Korean Peninsula is inching close to a thermonuclear war," the North's Asia-Pacific Peace Committee said in a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency.
Saying it did not want to see foreigners in South Korea "fall victim", the statement requested all foreign institutions, enterprises and tourists "to take measures for shelter and evacuation in advance for their safety".
The "thermonuclear war" threat has been wielded several times in recent months - most recently on March 7 - despite expert opinion that North Korea is nowhere near developing such an advanced nuclear device.
Last week's warning to embassies was also largely dismissed as anxiety-stirring rhetoric, with most governments involved making it clear they had no plans to withdraw personnel from their Pyongyang missions.
Tuesday's statement said the risk of nuclear conflict was being heightened daily by the "warmongering US" and its South Korean "puppets" who were intent on invading the North.
The Korean peninsula has been locked in a cycle of escalating military tensions since the North's third nuclear test in February, which drew toughened UN sanctions.
Pyongyang's bellicose rhetoric has reached fever pitch in recent weeks, with near-daily threats of attacks on US military bases and South Korea in response to ongoing South Korea-US military exercises.
Earlier Tuesday, North Korean workers followed Pyongyang's order to boycott the Kaesong joint industrial zone with South Korea, signalling the possible demise of the sole surviving symbol of cross-border reconciliation.
"Not a single worker showed up this morning," the manager of one of the 123 South Korean companies operating in Kaesong told reporters.
The North announced Monday it was taking the unprecedented step of pulling out its 53,000 workers and shutting the complex down indefinitely, following a tour of the zone by senior ruling party official Kim Yang-Don.
Established in 2004, Kaesong has never been closed before. Pyongyang's move reflects the depth of the current crisis on the Korean peninsula, which has otherwise been more notable for fiery rhetoric than action.
Located 10 kilometres inside North Korea, Kaesong is a crucial hard currency source for the impoverished North, through taxes and revenues, and from its cut of the workers' wages.
South Korean President Park Dean-Hye said the North's action was "very disappointing" and displayed a total disregard for investment norms that would return to haunt Pyongyang in the future.
"If North Korea, under the full eyes of the international community, breaches international rules and promises like this, then there will be no country or company which will invest in North Korea," Park said.
Pyongyang has blocked South Korean access to Kaesong since Wednesday, forcing 13 South Korean firms to halt production.
Yu Chang-Dean, vice president of the association representing the South's companies, said operations would have to be normalised swiftly to prevent permanent collateral damage.
"All firms have reached their limit. If things go on like this, all of us will face bankruptcy," Yu said.
Announcing the suspension of operations, Kim Yang-Don said Kaesong's future was entirely dependent on "the attitude of the South Korean authorities".
The North has indicated that South Korean media reports that it would never dare close Kaesong had affronted Pyongyang's "dignity".
It also took particular exception to comments by the South's defence minister last week that Seoul had a "military" contingency plan to ensure the safety of its citizens in Kaesong.
More than 300 South Koreans have left Kaesong and returned to the South since North Korea banned access last week.
