Korean residents of Japan denounced on Friday the Japanese media for their recent reporting on North Korean issues, saying it has kindled public hatred and prejudice against ethnic Koreans.

During a news conference at a Diet members' building, Sin Suk Ok, a human resource consultant, and other leaders of the Korean community in Japan said a flood of emotional reporting on the abductions of Japanese nationals to North Korea has led to an increasing number of attacks on North Korean residents in Japan.

Between the Sept. 17 Japan-North Korea summit and Oct. 5, a total of 308 cases of verbal and physical abuse against North Korean residents have been reported, according to the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryun). Many of these involved threats and attacks directed at students of ethnic Korean schools, it said.

"Although the abductions are unforgivable crimes" Sin said, "Korean citizens in Japan are being forced to pay the consequences."

They called on the media to take a broader perspective when reporting on North Korea-related issues.

The news conference was followed by another in which a group of Japanese journalists, mostly freelance reporters, also raised questions regarding the attitude of the mainstream media on the issue.