Unequal Treaty Violating Sovereignty of Korean Nation

yongyang, February 27 (KCNA) -- Among the crimes committed by Japan against the Korean nation is "Kanghwa Island Treaty", which was cooked up by means of military threat and deception 144 years ago.

In the mid-19th century, Japan stepped up the preparations for aggression on Korea, talking about a "theory" that Korea should be conquered by force of arms for Japan's "prosperity".

When its attempt to set foot on Korea in the method of "negotiations" met with strong resistance of the feudal government of Korea, Japan provoked "Unyo-maru" Incident in 1875.

Japan's warship "Unyo-maru" illegally intruded into the Pusan Port of Korea in May 1875 and perpetrated military espionage acts, recklessly bombarding the land and sailing the coastal waters of Korea.

Under the pretext of "finding drinking water" in September that year, the warship approached close to the Chojijin fortress in Kanghwa Island, a point of military importance in the West Sea of Korea that defended Seoul at that time. So, the guards of Chojijin showered fire on the aggressors.

Availing themselves of this incident, the Japanese aggressors launched an armed interference openly in January the next year, clamoring that the Korean side did hostile acts against Japan. And they bulldozed the feudal government of Korea into concluding what is called "Kanghwa Island Treaty" with 12 articles on February 27.

The "treaty" stipulated the conditions for subordinating Korea to Japan politically, economically and militarily by granting the latter privileges to dispatch the consul and exercise extraterritoriality and rights to "free trade", exemption from customs duties, the coast survey, etc.

This aggressive and subordinate unequal treaty totally violating Korea's sovereignty and interests still arouses the Korean people's wrath toward Japan.

Ri Song Il, workshop head of the Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Silk Mill, told KCNA at the Central Class Education House:

We can never forget the crimes of the Japanese imperialists no matter how much water flows under the bridge.

Japan has committed anti-DPRK hostile acts century after century, far from making honest apology and compensation for the past crimes. It should be mindful that such deeds will redouble the revengeful thought of our people. -0-