North Korea's Foreign Ministry has called on Japan to come clean on its past historical wrongdoings and to drop its "hostile policy" toward the North in 2005, a year that marks the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The ministry stressed that it is essential for Japan to reconcile its past wrongdoings if it wants to become a rightful member of the international community and a friendly neighbor.

The statement released on Monday is drawing attention since it was issued at the same time Seoul made public state documents concerning negotiations leading up to its normalization of diplomatic ties with Japan in 1965.