The statement reminded the public of the arrest of three Chongryon officials by the Japanese policemen on May 12.

It went on:

Chongryon is the dignified organization of overseas Koreans of the DPRK and it is playing the role of the diplomatic mission of the DPRK in the absence of the diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Japan.

An act of infringing upon the sovereignty of Chongryon precisely means a serious encroachment upon the DPRK. It is an act of aggression against the sovereign state.

What is lashing people into fury is that the Japanese authorities sponsored the illegal and criminal terrorist act with the approach of the 60th anniversary of the formation of Chongryon.

A statement from the official residence of the Japanese prime minister who supported the action points to the Japanese government's back-stage manipulation.

We strongly denounce the Japanese reactionaries' repeated crackdown on Chongryon and demand the immediate release of its officials.