At dawn of Tuesday the joint investigation headquarters consisting of police headquarters in Kyoto, Kanagawa, Yamaguchi and Shimane prefectures raided the houses of the manager of the Korean Specialty Sales Company and others and arrested them and searched their houses, the statement said, and went on:

Such suppression was committed at a time when the sentiment of all Koreans in Japan to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the formation of Chongryon is running high.

Lurking behind this is a cynic ploy of the Japanese authorities to create an undesirable atmosphere in the Japanese society by tarnishing the image of Chongryon and labeling it an "illegal organization" and "criminal organization".

A spokesperson for the prime minister's residence made reckless remarks patronizing the joint investigation headquarters, creating the impression that its action was taken on a legal ground. This fully exposes that the arrest was committed at the instigation of the Japanese authorities.

The statement said that the officials of Chongryon and Koreans in Japan will brilliantly adorn the 60th anniversary of Chongryon by dint of single-minded unity, rallied close around Chongryon, and thus powerfully demonstrate the validity of the patriotic cause and the might of Chongryon.