A religious group of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday strongly criticized Japan for barring its delegation from participating in a religious conference in Japan, the official news agency KCNA reported.

The DPRK's Korean Council of Religionists (KCR) issued a statement, assailing the Japanese government for refusing to issue a visa to the head of its delegation applying to attend the eighth regular meeting of the World Conference of Religions for Peace to be held in Japan's Kyoto.

"The illegal and reckless action taken by them (the Japanese authorities)...is nothing but suppression of religion unprecedented in the history of international relations," said the KCR.

The group saw this event as another example of Tokyo pursuing the U.S. hostile policy against the DPRK.

"The Korean people will never forget the monstrous crimes the Japanese imperialists committed by forcing Koreans into colonial slavery in the past and blocking the uniform development of the Korean nation," the KCR said.

Since the DPRK test-fired missiles in early July, Tokyo has imposed a series of sanctions against the country, including blocking DPRK citizens' entry into Japan.

Source: Xinhua