Japanese army's massacres of participants in Kapo peasants war in Korea
Pyongyang, June 3 (KCNA) -- A record proving the Japanese army's organized massacres of peasant army men during the Kapo peasants war in Korea (1894) was disclosed for the first time, Seoul-based Yonhap news reported.
Prof. Pak Maeng Su of Zen Buddhism University in Ryonggwang county, South Jolla Province, has made a joint investigation into this together with prof. Inoue of Hokkaido University, Japan, since 1995 before opening to the public on May 30 a "staff diary" worked out by the southern logistics command which directed the Japanese army in areas south of Seoul and a photo of rifles used by it in those days.
The "staff diary" which has been preserved in a library under the defence institute of the Japan Defence Agency said the head of the command who directed the quelling of the peasant army men as deputy staff chief of the imperial headquarters of Japan issued an order to "kill all peasant army men" on October 27, 1894.
At least 2,000 army men including the 19th battalion under the command conducted wholesale operations to kill peasant army men in Kyonggi, Kyongsang, Chungchong and Jolla provinces from November that year to March 1895.
In this regard, prof. Inoue in a treatise titled "Japanese army's killing of peasants" said that the Japanese army's first massacre of civilians in East Asia was committed against peasant army men during the Kapo peasants war. In those days Japan ordered the logistics command of the Japanese army to kill peasant army men though Japan did not declare a war against the Korean government, which is a violation of modern international law, he said.
Allout struggle of S. Korean workers declared
Pyongyang, June 3 (KCNA) -- The South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) called a press conference on May 31, at which it declared an allout struggle in June to have the workers' demands for the suspension of restructuring, withdrawal of layoff and wage hike met, a Yonhap News report from Seoul said.
To this end, polls on the strike will be conducted among local unions from June 4 to 11 and solidarity strikes will be staged on June 12 mainly by unions whose collective negotiations for wage hike have come to a rupture, the confederation said.
The KCTU also stated that it would lead the struggle centering on over 200 unions including 114 metal workers unions, 29 health workers unions, 35 unions under the federation of public transport and service trade unions and five unions of the federation of banking office clerks unions.
Meanwhile, the Federation of South Korean Christians and the Council of Christian Churches in South Korea sent to churches in different places a letter which calls for setting June 17, sunday, as a prayer day for reconciliation and peace for the implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration, to mark the first anniversary of its adoption.
Birthday of Queen of UK marked
Pyongyang, June 3 (KCNA) -- James Edward Hoare, UK charge d'affaires to the DPRK, hosted a reception at the Taedonggang Club for the diplomatic corps yesterday to celebrate the official birthday of the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Invited to the reception were Choe Su Hon, DPRK vice-minister of foreign affairs, officials concerned and foreign diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations here.
Speeches were made there.
Japan urged to redress its past crimes
Pyongyang, June 3 (KCNA) -- Japan should take a drastic measure to redress its past crimes at an early date, urges Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article.
The article goes on:
Although Germany honestly makes compensation for the human and material losses inflicted upon other countries and nations, Japan is deliberately evading apology and compensation, far from admitting its past crimes.
It is the legal and moral obligation for Japan to redeem its past crimes.
Japan can never evade its responsibility for its past wrongs.
If it tries to evade its responsibility, it can never be free from mental burden because of guilty conscience.
The only way for Japan to get rid of this guilty conscience is to honestly admit its past wrongdoings and fully settle them.
Japan's moves to cover up its crimes through the distortion of history will only add to its crimes.
If Japan persists in its efforts to evade the redress for its past crimes in the new century, too, it will stand isolated internationally and face a judgement by the times.
Japan's attitude intended to repeat its crimes is stirring up the anger of the Asian people and world conscience.
The Korean people will never pardon Japan's attempt to evade the redress for its past crimes.
They will certainly force Japan to pay for its past crimes.
Japan's destiny in the 21st century depends on how it settles its past crimes.
S. Korean expert on national dress and her party here
Pyongyang, June 3 (KCNA) -- Ri Yong Hui, South Korean expert on national dress, and her party arrived here yesterday for a national dress exhibition.
They were greeted at the airport by officials concerned.