calendar>>December 14. 2009 Juche 98
Japan Urged to Settle Its Past as Early as Possible
Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- It is a historical responsibility and a legal and moral obligation for Japan to honestly admit the monstrous crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists against the Korean people in the past and make reparation for them, observes Rodong Sinmun Monday in a signed commentary.

It goes on:

However, the Japanese reactionaries are persistently distorting and justifying the crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists against humanity, far from settling their past.

When the crimes related to "comfort women" for the Imperial Japanese Army were brought to light, the Japanese reactionaries openly denied them, asserting that "such thing did not exist" and "it was a fabrication." But the discovery of a lot of data proving the state's involvement in those crimes made it impossible for the Japanese authorities to evade their state responsibility for the sexual slavery any longer. Nevertheless, they are not yet sincere in their approach towards the issue of reparation.

Running the whole gamut of excuses to shun the settlement of its past, Japan is zealously inciting militarism throughout its society.

What is ridiculous is the fact that Japan, which committed such hideous crimes against humanity in the past, is getting frantic with an anti-DPRK human rights racket at the UN and other international arenas, far from reflecting on those crimes.

An assailant is obliged to honestly admit and reflect on his past crimes committed against his victim and settle them. This is a due obligation and ethical morality and international usage.

Japan should face up to the reality and opt for settling its past as early as possible. It is the trend of the times that those countries which imposed disasters upon humankind during World War II break with their past histories and turn over a new leaf in the direction of peace. If Japan swims against this trend, it will not be able to escape international isolation and destruction, forsaken by the world.

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