KCNA — The DPRK will react to Japan's move to apply economic sanctions against the DPRK with tough retaliatory measures. Rodong Sinmun Friday warns this in a signed commentary assailing Japan for contemplating applying economic sanctions against the DPRK single-handed, independent of the United States. The Japanese reactionaries, much upset by the world public paying no heed to the so-called "abduction issue", are working hard to build up public opinion favorable for them and "single-handed application of economic sanctions" is part of their new anti-DPRK campaign, the commentary observes, and continues: Japan's loudmouthed "single-handed application of economic sanctions" is aimed at keeping the world opinion on the "abduction issue" from waning in a bid to pressurize the DPRK and wrest any concession from the latter. The DPRK clearly stated more than once that it would regard any sanctions against it as a declaration of war. Nevertheless, the Japanese reactionaries are contemplating the application of economic sanctions against the DPRK.
This is a deliberate and premeditated provocative move to scrap the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration and drive the confrontation between the two countries to a dangerous phase of clash. The hostile relations between the two countries are now inching close to the dangerous phase of explosion. Under this situation the DPRK is left with no option but to take a decisive counter- measure. The army and the people of the DPRK value its sovereignty as their life and soul and will never allow anyone to infringe upon it.