The U.S. State Department took up hate speech against Korean residents in Japan in its annual human rights report released Thursday, apparently reflecting Washington's concern about the campaign against the ethnic minority in the country.

Members of ultra right-wing groups "used racially pejorative" terms in demonstrations in predominantly ethnic Korean neighborhoods in Tokyo and were accused of hate speech by the press and politicians, the report said.

The report mentioned Zaitokukai (citizens against special privileges for Zainichi) as one of such groups. Zainichi are people of Korean ancestry who have permanent resident status in Japan.