A state-run North Korean newspaper has reportedly blasted Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Toshinori Shigeie for his remarks.

Reportedly he had called on the North to resolve the issue of the abduction of Japanese nationals and to denuclearize at the same time.

China's Xinhwa news agency reported that the Minju Josun, the official daily of the North's Cabinet, criticized the Japanese envoy as trying to frustrate progress in the denuclearization process.

The North Korean paper claimed that the abductions and denuclearization are two unrelated issues.

The paper also said that the only way to improve relations between North Korea and Japan is for Tokyo to apologize and compensate for its past crimes.