The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) state media has slammed Japan for its recent trade restrictions against Seoul over wartime slavery disputes, accusing Tokyo of "destroying the trend of peace" on the Korean Peninsula.

Japan is "trying to destroy the trend of peace on the Korean Peninsula by putting pressure upon the ROK through the restrictions," reported DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Friday night, describing Japan as its "sworn enemy."

It added: "The human, physical and emotional damage Japan has caused to the Korean people (during its colonial rule) cannot be compensated even if the entire nation of Japan sacrifices itself."

Read more:

U.S. is the invisible hand behind Japan-ROK trade disputes

Japan may take S. Korea wartime labor dispute to International Court of Justice, reports NHK

Pyongyang's remarks came after the Republic of Korea's (ROK) high court ordered Japanese firms that used forced labor to compensate Korean victims, Tokyo earlier this month restricted the export of several chemicals to the ROK that are crucial to its world-leading chip and smartphone companies. 

ROK President Moon Jae-in said Tokyo's actions are "politically motivated" and have caused an "unprecedented emergency" for Seoul's export-driven economy.

(Cover: A police officer stands guard near Japan and ROK national flags outside a hotel in Tokyo, Japan, June 22, 2015. /Reuters Photo)