Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda on Tuesday condemned North Korea's declaration that Japan would be barred from participating in the next round of six-way talks over Pyongyang's suspected nuclear weapons program.
"It is North Korea's selfish claim," Fukuda remarked during an interview with a group of media organizations on Tuesday evening.
In stating his case, the government's top spokesman cited Pyongyang's vague pledge to hold another round of six-nation talks during the first round of negotiations in August.