At a recent meeting of the Cabinet ministers, the Japanese authorities, finding fault with Chongryon, defined it as an object subject to investigation under the Act for the Prevention of Sabotage, and adopted a decision to the effect that it is possible that the latter can commit a violent act of sabotage.

The Japanese authorities' branding Chongryon as an "anti-state organization" is a vivid manifestation of their deep-rooted hostile policy towards the DPRK and an expression of their vicious and black-hearted intention to crack down and stamp out Chongryon at any cost.

Chongryon has consistently worked for defending and ensuring the life and interests of Koreans in Japan and promoting friendship with the Japanese people as clarified in its action programme over 60-odd years since its formation.

It has conducted legitimate activities, abiding by international law and the Japanese laws without interference in the Japanese internal affairs and promoted mutual understanding and friendly exchanges between the peoples of the DPRK and Japan.

This being a fact, the Japanese authorities claim that Chongryon has been involved in the "abduction issue", "illegal export case" and "sci-tech support for the DPRK". This is sheer sophism.

This is nothing but the malignant prejudice to make the public take Chongryon as a "violent body" while antagonizing it for no justifiable grounds and regarding it as the target of crackdown and obliteration.

To look back on history, the Japanese reactionaries have kept Chongryon as the first target of their hostile moves towards the DPRK and persistently resorted to a host of smear campaigns and crackdown against it.

In particular, the Abe regime which set the hostile policy towards the DPRK as the national policy is getting more vicious in its moves against the DPRK and Chongryon.

The shooting spree at the Central Hall of Chongryon in February was followed up by the Japanese customs authorities' fascist crackdown against the students of Kobe Korean High School on their return to Japan after visiting their motherland. This not only offended the juvenile minds of children but seriously threatened even the life and safety of Koreans in Japan.

In March, the right-wing gangsters of the Japanese No. 1 Party insulted and decried the students of the Korean schools. The right of Koreans' children to national education was also trampled upon as evidenced by the justification of a stop to the payment of subsidies for the Korean schools.

What is stunning is that the Abe regime is hell-bent on depriving Chongryon and the Koreans in Japan of all their democratic national rights including human rights, right to living and the right to business and also the legitimate rights universally recognized by international law, while enforcing its own sanctions independent of the UN sanctions, quite contrary to its lip-service for dialogue with the DPRK.

All the facts go to prove that the decedents of samurais remain unchanged in their hostile attitude towards the DPRK and Chongryon despite the changed situation and peaceful climate on the Korean peninsula which draws the attention of the world community.

The encroachment on the national rights of the Koreans in Japan amounts to the encroachment of the sovereignty of the DPRK.

The Abe group should remember that Chongryon just represents the dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK in Japan.

Reckless hostility and prejudice will lead Japan only to self-destruction and isolation.

The Japanese authorities would be well advised to roll back their anachronistic and hostile policy towards the DPRK and Chongryon, clearly understanding the trend of the times.