PYONGYANG, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday accused Tokyo of imposing new financial sanctions on it, saying that such an action would intensify hostility between the two countries.

    In a commentary issued by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the DPRK blasted the Japanese new sanctions as violating the principle and spirit of the DPRK-Japan Declaration signed in 2002.

    "(Such sanctions) will intensify the unstable situation on the Korean Peninsula and the region of Asia and Pacific," said the KCNA, adding that "the DPRK will never stand by in the face of Tokyo's financial sanctions."

    It's the first time the DPRK media have reacted to Japanese new financial sanctions since Tuesday.

    On Tuesday, the Japanese cabinet approved new financial sanctions against the DPRK, which affects 15 groups and one individual, including 12 DPRK trading firms and one commercial bank.

    Those targeted would not obtain government permission to remit or withdraw money from Japanese banks.

    Since the DPRK test-fired missiles in early July, Tokyo has imposed a series of sanctions on the DPRK, including prohibiting a DPRK ferry that provided the only direct passenger link between the two countries from using its ports for six months, and barring the entry of DPRK government officials. Enditem