'Foolish daydream': North Korea's jibe at Japan's bid to grab Tok Islets

N Korea accused Japan of staging combat drills to capture islets by mobilising self-defence forces

North Korea on Thursday slammed Japan for trying to lay claim to the Tok Islets by presenting them as Japanese territory in teaching materials for schools.

According to Xinhua news agency, the official daily Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary that such acts are being committed by "Japanese reactionaries with robber-like intention".

"The Japanese reactionaries persistently assert that the Tok Islets are inviolable parts of their territory and imbue rising generations with ambition for the Tok Islets. Their purpose is to use their youngsters as a shock brigade for grabbing the Tok Islets and re-invading Korea in the future," said the newspaper of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

It also accused Japan of frequently staging combat drills for capturing the islets by mobilising the Self-Defence Forces and preparing the country for a state of war.

"No matter how desperately Japan may assert the Tok Islets belong to its territory, it can convince no one. Japan's bid to grab the Tok Islets is a foolish daydream," it said.

The Japanese government decided to write into official school textbooks that the Tok Islets are part of Japan, a claim denounced by both Pyongyang and Seoul.