The satellite launch on September 11 was part of preparations for reinvasion of the Korean peninsula, the North's ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary.

North Korea "will take imperative self-defensive measures to counter the Japanese militarists' dangerous moves for reinvasion," it said.

"The Japanese militarists are watching for a chance to reinvade Korea in an attempt to begin aggression on Korea to embark on the road of conquering Asia as they did in the past."

Japan colonised Korea from 1910 to 1945.

Pyongyang has stepped up its verbal attacks on Tokyo since it imposed financial sanctions last week by blacklisting 15 companies and an individual with alleged links to the North's weapons programs.

The sanctions were the first since the UN Security Council demanded action over the North's missile tests in July.

The United States has urged its allies to tighten the financial noose around North Korea, which is also in a standoff with the international community over its nuclear ambitions.