North Korea on Monday 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, North Korea lashed out at Japan's claims that it does not recognize North Korea's access to nuclear weapons, and that it can never accept North Korea as a nuclear weapons state.

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

(Xinhua News Agency December 11, 2006)