The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday refuted allegation by Japanese government that the DPRK handed over "false remains" of abducted Japanese woman Megumi Yokota.

According to reports, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hosoda Hiroyuki on December 8 announced that the DNA tests of the remains did not match Yokota, who was kidnapped by the DPRK in 1977 at the age of 13.

The DPRK quickly gave response towards the allegation, with a DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman announcing that the Japanese side's allegation is "unimaginable" and with ulterior motives.

"Under the repeated request of the Japanese side, Yokota's husband gave the remains to the chief of the Japanese delegation hand to hand. It is unimaginable that Yokota's husband gave out the remains of other persons, not his wife," the spokesman said.

The spokesman said that during the visit of the Japanese delegation, the DPRK side had sent back Japanese abductees and their children, established a national investigation team looking for the alleged missing Japanese abductees and had proved their deaths with witnesses, relevant materials and remains.

"However, the Japanese right-wing is arousing the already-settled abductee issue, in a bid to block the improvement of DPRK-Japan relationship, further seek excuse for its military-expansion and intervention into regional issues," he revealed.

"If the Japanese side uses the DPRK's efforts for anti-DPRK purpose, the DPRK will stop its investigation, and we will reconsider the participation in the six-party talks with Japan," the spokesman said.

He further warned that if the Japanese side initiates sanctions against the DPRK, the DPRK would take it as a declaration of war, and would "promptly react with strong physical methods."

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2004)