Rodong Sinmun today says this in a by-lined article. It continues:

The Japanese reactionaries are impudent enough to profoundly confuse right and wrong as if they were victims and the DPRK was an assailant as regards the "abduction issue".

As far as the issue is concerned, Japan is a real kidnapper. The forcible drafting and abduction of Koreans committed by the Japanese imperialists in the first half of the last century are clear evidence of it.

It is ridiculous for Japan to cry out for the "abduction issue" as it refused to repent of the forcible drafting and abduction, far from apologizing for those crimes.

What is more intolerable is that the Japanese reactionaries are seeking to brand the DPRK as a "human rights abuser", linking the "abduction issue" to human rights. This is prompted by their black-hearted intention to tarnish the ever-growing image of the DPRK and internationally isolate it at any cost.

The Japanese reactionaries are seeking sinister intention by persistently raising a cry and hue over the issue.

The ulterior aim sought by the reactionary forces of Japan in clamoring about the "abduction issue" under the pretext of the "people's sentiment" is to win popularity, refurbish their images, create atmosphere favorable for maintaining their power and consolidate their political foundation and, at the same time, label the DPRK "abductor" in a bid to isolate it internationally and hush up the issue of the settlement of the past.

The Japanese reactionaries' action does so harm but not any good as it further bedevils the hostile relations between the DPRK and Japan and renders the situation complicated.

The Japanese reactionaries would be well advised to get rid of philistinism aimed at meeting their own interests at the sacrifice of others, mindful that their racket of "abduction issue" prompted by their base selfishness will get them nowhere.

The people of the DPRK are closely following their evermore undisguised reckless hostile moves towards it and will force them to pay dear price for their actions without fail, regarding their vicious racket of the "abduction issue" as a politically motivated provocation against the DPRK and part of their attempt at reinvasion of Korea.