North Korea warns of nuclear war

"Dark clouds of a nuclear war are hanging low over the Korean Peninsula," the North's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a commentary carried by state-run Korean Central News Agency.

"The ever-more frantic moves of the US to ignite a new war against (North Korea) would only compel it ... to bolster its deterrent for self-defence in every way."

The North repeatedly has accused the United States of planning to attack. Washington has denied any such intention.

The North's comments Saturday follow a South Korea-US agreement this month giving American troops more flexibility in the South.