The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday said it strongly opposed Japan's bid for a permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying that it would damage UN authority.

In a commentary carried by the leading official newspaper Rodong Sinmun, DPRK said that Japan is not qualified for the permanent membership of the UNSC due to its position as a "hostile country" in the UN charter.

"This country (Japan) remains unrepentant of its crime-woven past," said the newspaper, adding that "now it has determined to become a military power by means of upgrading the Defense Agency into a ministry and amending its peaceful constitution."

Japan has re-launched Tokyo's bid to win a permanent seat on the UN Security Council after an initiative with key partners failed nearly two years ago. In Japan's new proposal, Tokyo called on the United Nations to set up a semi-permanent membership status in the Security Council, and said Japan should be one of the candidates.

Source: Xinhua