The Democratic People's Republicof Korea (DPRK) yesterday accused Japan of setting obstacles for a fair solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, calling for the exclusion of Tokyo from the six-party talks.

In a signed commentary carried by the leading official newspaper Rodong Simun, DPRK lashed out at Japan's claims that it does not recognize DPRK's access to nuclear weapons, and that it can never accept DPRK as a nuclear weapons state.

"The DPRK needs no recognition from anybody to develop or possess nuclear weapons," read the article, adding that "Japan's real intention was to use the (six-party) talks not for finding a fair solution to the nuclear issue but for achieving its sinister political aim."

"The absence of Japan in the talks would help the talks proceed with less inconvenience," it further read.

After the DPRK conducted an underground nuclear test last month, Japan imposed a series of punitive sanctions against the DPRK, which prohibit DPRK ships from using Japanese harbors, and bar entry of DPRK officials.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman announced on Monday that the six-party talks aimed at seeking a solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue would resume in Beijing on Dec. 18.