Japan Should Practice Self-Control: KCNA Commentary

   Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Japan is now on jitters after the DPRK's successful test-launch of strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12.

   Its chief executive, in his talk with Harris, commander-in-chief of the U.S. forces in the Pacific on May 16, agreed on closer solidarity through tightened alliance to tackle the "nuclear and missile threat from north Korea".

   Earlier, Japan Finance Minister Aso and U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin in their talks on May 12 discussed "tightening economic sanctions" on the DPRK. Aso in a press conference later called the DPRK "a country bereft of common sense".

   The foreign minister and other Cabinet ministers of Japan are heaping admonition on the puppet government in south Korea that "it is time to ratchet up pressure, not seeking dialogue".

   This is an impudent and senseless act of those taken aback by the tremendous might and strategic position of the DPRK which has emerged a nuclear power in the East and a rocket power in Asia.

   It is the Japanese reactionaries who feel more uneasiness than any others after the DPRK's launch of newly-developed rocket.

   Japan has been hell-bent on its moves to impose sanctions on the DPRK, pursuant to the U.S., only to bring itself deeper into the striking range of the DPRK.

   Today the U.S. mainland and the Pacific operational theatre are within the strike range of the DPRK and the DPRK has all kinds of powerful means for annihilating retaliatory strike. This makes Japan which has committed lots of crimes suffer from extreme persecution mania.

   In March there was a citizens evacuation drill, the first of its kind since the end of the Second World War, in Akita Prefecture and recent days saw the strengthened measures of the Japan government for emergency evacuation of more than 57 000 Japanese in south Korea in case of contingency.

Received from the DPRK Embassy