On Tuesday the Japanese police authorities searched the houses of three Chongryon officials by groundlessly charging them with violation of the "law on foreign exchange" and unreasonably arrested them.

Such tyrannical action deliberately taken on the threshold of the 60th anniversary of the formation of Chongryon is touching off towering resentment of all the Koreans as Japan has not made any slightest reparation for the crimes committed against the Korean people though seven decades have passed since Japan's defeat in World War II.

The repeated politically-motivated suppression of Chongryon and Koreans in Japan should never be overlooked as it is a wanton violation of the sovereignty of the DPRK.

The DPRK-Japan Exchange Association vehemently denounces the recent case as politically-motivated suppression and human rights abuse, prompted by a cynic ploy to do harm to Chongryon.

The Japanese authorities should stop at once the foolish act of unreasonably arresting Korean citizens in Japan and trying to pressurize the DPRK with them as hostage.

The Japanese authorities will be wholly responsible for the grave consequences to be entailed by the recent action.