North Korea demands Japan compensate for past

North Korea has recently stepped up criticism of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration. Photo: AP

The Rodong Sinmun criticized Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for repeatedly raising the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, despite Pyongyang's claim that the issue has already been resolved.

The newspaper also criticized, by name, Mr. Abe and Foreign Minister Taro Kono for firmly asserting that economic sanctions against North Korea need to be maintained until Pyongyang takes concrete steps toward the goal of denuclearization.

In an article published in English on the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the Rodong Sinmun stressed: “Japan should immediately stop poking its nose into the Korean Peninsula issue and instead fulfill its duty. It should properly compensate for what has been left from the past, instead of trying to interfere in the issue of ensuring peace on the Korean Peninsula and the region.

As long as Japan refuses to make amends for its past, which is its top priority, Tokyo will be left alone in the region.”

Recently, Prime Minister Abe expressed his willingness to dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but KCNA criticized Japan's "hostile policy" towards North Korea as "remaining unchanged."

North Korea has recently stepped up criticism of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration, amid improving relations between Pyongyang and Seoul and Washington since the inter-Korean and US-North Korea summits./.