Korean residents in Japan on Thursday expressed anger and disappointment at North Korea's announcement that it has succeeded in detonating its first hydrogen bomb, saying it could fuel anti-Korean sentiment and spoil ongoing grass-roots efforts to promote peace in the Korean Peninsula.
"This is the fourth time North Korea has carried out a nuclear test, but every time it has only inflicted damage on the Korean community in Japan," said Kwak Jinwoong, 49, director of Osaka-based Korea NGO Center.
"Every time, it has sparked criticism against — and alarm of — North Korea in Japan, resulting in Koreans in Japan being made targets of such sentiment."