North Korea could "basically vapourise" millions of South Koreans if the West attacks, even without nuclear weapons, Boris Johnson has warned.
Britain's Foreign Secretary sounded the stark alert to explain why he backs diplomacy, not military action, despite the rogue state's latest nuclear test.
State TV today claimed a hydrogen bomb ordered by leader Kim Jong-un was a “perfect success” and was a “meaningful” step in completing the country’s nuclear weapons programme.
US President Donald Trump - who has previously vowed "fire and fury" - appeared to hint at military action today tweeting: "North Korea has conducted a major Nuclear Test. Their words and actions continue to be very hostile and dangerous to the United States.
But Mr Johnson insisted “peaceful, diplomatic means” are the best and “we think the sanctions route still holds potential”.
He said North Korea only has six months of oil supplies left and renewed calls on China to cut off its trade.
“It’s certainly our view that none of the military options are good," he said.
“The distance between North Korea and Seoul is very very small. They could basically vapourise large parts of the South Korean population even with conventional weapons.
“So that’s not really very easy to threaten and to deliver. Much more productive we think is to continue with the international diplomatic efforts."
More than 50million people live in South Korea, many of them in Seoul - which is less than 50 miles from the border with the hostile north.
Mr Johnson added: "There’s no question that this is another provocation. It’s reckless, what they’re doing.
"They seem to be moving closer to a hydrogen bomb which, if fitted to a successful missile, would unquestionably present a new order of threat."
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