PYONGYANG, Oct. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- The Democratic People's Republicof Korea (DPRK) Tuesday condemned remarks made by new Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura , saying it is harmful to the DPRK-Japan working contacts planned for mid-November.

    "If his remarks mean an official stand of the Japanese government towards the working contacts, this compels the DPRK to think otherwise as it is making sincere efforts for their success," warned the major paper of Rodong Sinmun in a signed commentary.

    According to the commentary, Machimura had asked the DPRK to make "sincere approach" to the "issue of abduction," calling it a precondition for the Japan-DPRK talks for the normalization of the relations. He had also said that Japan might impose sanctions on the DPRK depending on the results of DPRK-Japan inter-governmental working contacts planned for mid-November.

    "These remarks are quite contrary to the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration. He is doing in breach of the Pyongyang Declaration, unbecoming for the diplomatic boss of Japan," said the commentary.

    The article advised the Japanese authorities to "stop hamstringing the efforts to implement the Pyongyang Declaration and working to bedevil the DPRK-Japan relations."

    The Pyongyang Declaration was issued in September 2002 at a historic meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumiand DPRK leader Kim Jong Il, in which the two countries agreed to resume their long-stalled normalization talks. Enditem