The association and all Koreans in China cannot repress their surging national resentment at the Japanese authorities' unwarranted politically-motivated suppression of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), the statement said.

Such base racket fully reveals the anti-DPRK, anti-Chongryon moves of Japan which is in pursuance of the U.S. moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK, it noted.

The Japanese government's suppression is a premeditated politically-motivated plot to destroy Chongryon organizations as it is an arrogant and illegal criminal act, it charged, and went on:

Chongryon is a legitimate overseas citizens organization of the DPRK which protects all democratic national rights and interests of Koreans in Japan. It is, at the same time, playing the role of diplomatic mission for promoting friendship with Japanese as the DPRK and Japan have no diplomatic relations.

The suppression of such dignified Chongryon and Koreans in Japan amounts to an unpardonable act of encroaching upon the DPRK.

The Japanese authorities are persisting in their hostile policy toward the DPRK, far from honestly apologizing and repenting of the crimes committed in the past when they inflicted all sorts of misfortunes and sufferings on the Korean nation.

The true patriotic activities of Chongryon are unanimously supported and hailed by the international community.

We strongly demand the Japanese authorities immediately lift "sanctions" against vice-chairmen of the Chongryon Central Standing Committee and all other unreasonable "sanctions", facing up to the trend of the times, and fairly ensure the human rights and life of Koreans in Japan.