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DPRK lashes out as Japan extends sanctions

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-14 15:32

PYONGYANG -- The official Rodong Sinmun daily accused Tuesday Japan's decision to extend sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) of a "severe provocation" and vowed not to "turn a blind eye on it." 

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel stand around PAC-3, land-to-air missile, set up at a base amid the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's planned rocket launch in Akita, northern Japan, Tuesday, March 31, 2009. [Xinhua]

Satellite launch was a legitimate right of the DPRK, a commentary carried by the newspaper said.

Related readings: UN adopts statement on DPRK Japan extends DPRK sanctions Wen, Aso discusses DPRK launch China delegation leaves for visits to DPRK, Syria

Japan deliberately alleged the launch was a test-fire of a missile and linked it with military issue, which revealed its intention to change Japanese people's focus from domestic political crisis and heighten Korean peninsula tensions, in a bid to realize its ambition of a military power and shrug off its history crimes, the article said.

The DPRK will go ahead with its own way, in despite those anti-DPRK movement, it added.

Japan has decided to extend its sanctions against the DPRK for another one year and impose more severe sanction measures on its judgement that DPRK's recent launch was in violation with Security Council Resolution 1718.

The sanctions, imposed in October 2006 by Japan unilaterally, include a ban on the import of DPRK goods and stop its citizens from entering Japan.

The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a presidential statement on DPRK's satellite launch, saying it was "in contravention of Security Council resolution 1718" and demanding the country "not conduct any further launch."