Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) -- Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, issued the following press statement on Friday:

Referring to the "abduction issue" again, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida clarified the stand that he would make sustained efforts under the established policy for the settlement of various pending issues between the DPRK and Japan.

I cannot understand why he persistently adheres to the issue that cannot be settled and has nothing to be solved while trying hard to deny and shun the reality.

The DPRK has nothing to solve as regards the "abduction issue" insisted by Japan and, moreover, it has neither the responsibility nor the will to make any effort for it.

I make it clear once again.

The DPRK-Japan dialogue is not a matter of concern to the DPRK. And the DPRK will not allow any attempt of Japan to contact the former.

And the DPRK will always respond sharply to Japan's behavior of interfering with its exercise of sovereignty.

This is the stand of the DPRK government. -0-