Japanese broadcaster NHK says a North Korean government gazette has high hopes for Japan’s new ruling party, the Democratic Party of Japan.

NHK says that Pyongyang’s "Minju Choson" state paper implied that the DPJ will keep its distance from the United States and seek reconciliation with Asian neighbors.

The paper also reportedly cited a thesis written by DPJ Chairman Yukio Hatoyama as criticizing U.S. economic policies.

NHK said North Korea may be trying to block South Korea, the U.S. and Japan from cooperating on the nuclear issue.