Minju Joson Thursday in a commentary terms this a farce staged on baseless charges.

It goes on:

The president of the company and others have no reason whatsoever to stand trial.

This being a hard reality, the Japanese reactionaries staged an illegal trial far from releasing the guiltless compatriots. This is a politically-motivated action to disorganize the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan by labeling it a criminal organization at any cost.

The trial once again brought to light the true colors of Japan.

Japan styles itself a "law-governed state" and "democratic state", but, in fact, it is the fascist and gangster-like state which ruthlessly violates both law and democracy.

Chongryon is a dignified overseas citizens' organization of the DPRK and crackdown upon Chongryon precisely means provocation to the DPRK.

The Japanese reactionaries should bear in mind that with no suppression can they infringe upon the sovereignty of the DPRK and destabilize and stamp out Chongryon. They should retract the unreasonable sentence demanded for the compatriots and release them at once.