The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday expressed strong anger over Japan for barring its players from participating in table tennis matches in Japan, the official news agency reported.

In a statement issued by the DPRK Table Tennis Association (TTA), TTA criticized Japanese authority for prohibiting DPRK players' participation in the Children's Table Tennis Championships with unacceptable political motivation.

"It is obvious that the organizing committee of the championships sent the notice to our association under the pressure of the Japanese authorities," the TTA said.

"The Japanese authorities can never flee from the responsibility for having barred the DPRK team from participating in...through a politically motivated interference in the noble sports games," said the TTA.

The TTA also urged the International Table Tennis Federation and the Table Tennis Federation of Asia "to pay a serious attention to the case and take a necessary measure".

The 15th East Asia Children's Table Tennis Championships will be held in Osaka in Japan.

Since DPRK test-fired missiles in early last month, Tokyo has imposed series of sanction measures on DPRK, including prohibiting DPRK civilians' entry into Japan.