North Korea blasts Japan

North Korea's official KCNA news agency Wednesday accused Japan of seeking to take over Dokdo island and using it as a launching pad for attacks.

According to the KCNA, Dokdo island has been the sacred territory of North Korea since ancient times. The island is currently controlled by South Korea.

The article said Japan's insistence on sovereignty over Dokdo and its attempts to change the focus of the issue to one of a territorial dispute were plots to foment acts of aggression.

Japan's constant rekindling of territorial disputes with neighboring countries constantly has astonished the international community, and it must stop risking conflict over Dokdo, KCNA warned.

Dokdo, with an area of 0.18 square kilometers, is located in the waters to the east of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea, South Korea and Japan all consider the island part of their territory.

Japan calls the island "Takeshima," and the county of Shimae in Japan held a "Day of Takeshima" on Tuesday, declaring the island part of Japan. In all, 69 Japanese people have changed their registered address to Dokdo, the Kyodo News Agency reported Sunday.

Xinhua