North Korea is accusing Japan's Self-Defense Force of deploying a secret mission in 2000 to take over the Dokdo islets.

The Rodong Shinmun, the North's official daily, said in an editorial that Japan has now shown its intent to seize Dokdo by military force as Japanese reconnaissance planes have circled above the islets.

The paper did not mention the location or exact date of the alleged mission.

In September 2000, the Pyongyang Broadcasting Station once reported that Japan mobilized its self-defense force and recently held a secret military drill in Iojima, Japan.