Why Does Korea Give a Wide Berth to Japan?

“The Korean women wore only kimono with no underwear. They were called in

Japanese names or their room numbers in the comfort stations instead of their Korean

names, and subjected to every manner of unbearable shame. If they resisted, they were

even killed. A Korean girl, nicknamed Tokiko was decapitated by a Japanese military

officer before many women on the excuse that she spoke in Korean.” (Kim Yong Sil,

victim of sexual slavery for the Japanese army)

“Massacre of Koreans in Japan. Look, the barbarians’ atrocities! Brutal acts such as

forcing 17-hour-long backbreaking labour a day, shooting at the escapees and throwing

their bodies into the river or locking them in an underground room and pouring lime and

gravel over them.” (part of an article carried by Dong A-Ilbo, dated August 1922)

“The Japanese authorities made public that children aged 3-5 attending nurseries and

kindergartens across the country are exempted from paying education fees. They,

however, excluded kindergartens affiliated to the schools of Koreans from such relief

benefits. The Korean children resident in Japan are the descendents of victims of the

criminal forcible drafting. In view of the historical background of the occurrence of the

problem of Korean residents in Japan and the past Japanese crimes against the Korean

nation, it is an unavoidable moral obligation and responsibility of the Japanese

authorities to respect and protect the offspring of the Korean compatriots in Japan.” (Ri

Ok Sil, teacher at the Kyongsang Kindergarten)

“The current prosperity of Japan, which acclaims itself as an ‘economic giant’, is a

product of the blood shed by the Korean people. During their rule over Korea for over 40

years the Japanese imperialists plundered our country of its rich natural resources.

During the Korean war (1950-1953) it grew fat by selling lethal weapons to the US army.

Toeing the US line, Japan stands at the forefront of the schemes for economic blockade

aimed at isolating and stifling our Republic.” (Pak Myong Chol, researcher at the

Economy Institute under the Academy of Social Sciences)

Japan’s brazenness of distorting the truth, immorality of denying its blood-stained, 

crime-ridden history and reckless insanity of being fascinated by militarism–these are the

very reason why the DPRK gives a wide berth to Japan and why Japan still remains a

wound in the hearts of Korean people.

Japan must recognize and apologize for its past crimes, and promise not to repeat its

past.

It is the only option for it to become a close neighbour of the DPRK and participate in

the efforts for genuine cooperation and common prosperity in East Asia.