PYONGYANG, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The official media of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Tuesday warned that Western countries are using "human rights" issue to undermine the independence of other countries.

The official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea said in an article that the "imperialists' human rights' racket should no longer be overlooked in order to build an independent new world in which the sovereignty and equality are ensured for all the countries."

"The imperialists are the kingpin of human rights abuses and human rights criminals who have to face stern punishment by the international community," the article said apparently in reference to some Western countries, in particular the United States.

The article said the politicization of human rights and application of double standards have to be rejected.

"No specified nation can be a judge. But the imperialists, claiming as if they are 'human rights judges,' are politicizing human rights and attacking and pressurizing progressive countries after singling them out," it said.

DPRK has repeatedly rejected accusations of human rights abuses by the United States and some other Western countries.