Pyongyang, Mar 13 (IANS): North Korean media on Tuesday warned that Western countries were using the "human rights" issue to undermine the independence of other countries.

The official daily 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", reports Xinhua news agency.

"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 US.

The article said the politicisation 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 politicising human rights and attacking and pressurizing progressive countries after singling them out," it said.

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