DPRK-Japan Friendship Association Accuses Japanese Reactionaries' Crackdown upon Chongryon

Pyongyang, March 28 (KCNA) -- The Japanese joint police investigation headquarters conducted a surprise search operation against the houses of the officials of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) including the chairman and vice-chairman of its Central Standing Committee on March 26. The headquarters includes police of Kyoto Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture, Yamaguchi Prefecture and Shimane Prefecture.

The Japanese investigation authorities alleged "Chongryon was likely to have violated the foreign exchange law" when conducted the forcible search only to end up with no positive material evidence.

The DPRK-Japan Friendship Association Saturday in a statement denounced the search as illegal investigation in breach of international law, to say nothing of Japan Constitution and criminal procedure law. The statement said:

So far, the Japanese reactionaries have committed unwarranted crackdown upon Chongryon and Koreans in Japan against law. But it is the first time that they targeted the chairman and vice-chairman of the Central Standing Committee of Chongryon, who are deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK.

The recent serious case in Japan, which styles itself a "law-governed state" and "democratic state", is an unpardonable provocation and serious infringement on sovereignty of the DPRK.

It was carried out by the order of Japan Police Agency and with a search-warrant issued by the judicial authorities. These facts prove that the Japanese government authorities are entirely responsible for the unreasonable search.

The Japanese reactionaries are now making desperate efforts to create a springboard for accelerating their moves to make Japan lurch to the right and fascist and realizing their ambition for emerging a military giant while taking the advantage of the U.S. frantic anti-DPRK moves.

The Korean nation will never pardon the Japanese reactionary forces' desperate suppression of Chongryon aimed at pushing the DPRK-Japan relations to a catastrophe once again.

If the Japanese authorities sincerely want the improved DPRK-Japan relations, they should stop at once the crackdown upon Chongryon and Koreans in Japan.

Korea-Japan Society for Interchange Censures Suppression of Chongryon

Pyongyang, March 28 (KCNA) -- The Korea-Japan Society for Interchange in a statement Saturday hit out at the Japan Police Agency's search of the houses of the chairman and vice-chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) who are deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK on Mar. 26.

The unwarranted anti-DPRK and anti-Chongryon act that activated tens of police and armored cars is touching off strong protest and denunciation and towering resentment. The statement said:

The despicable act that is timed to coincide with the U.S. vicious anti-DPRK "human rights" campaign is apparently pursuant to the U.S. scenario. The U.S. tries to strangle the DPRK with severe "sanctions", talking about "collapse of its social system".

Japan which styles itself a "law-governed state" committed the bullying act, intentionally charging Chongryon with suspicious involvement in a case without legal and scientific validity, not content with working as a shock brigade in carrying out the U.S. anti-DPRK "human rights" campaign. This can never go unnoticed.

Chongryon is a legitimate overseas citizens' organization of the DPRK advocating all democratic and national rights of the Koreans in Japan, and it plays the role of the DPRK mission abroad as the two countries have no diplomatic relations.

The Society strongly denounces the suppression of the leading officials of Chongryon as a serious human rights abuse and an intolerable infringement on the sovereignty of the DPRK.

Japan has not made any proper redemption for its past crimes against humanity, 70 years since its defeat in the war. It is greatly mistaken if it thinks it can go scot-free after suppressing Koreans in Japan.

The Japanese authorities have to apologize for the fascist act and punish those responsible.

If this incident has adverse impacts on the implementation of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration and the Stockholm agreement, Japan will have to hold full responsibility.