Rodong Sinmun Friday observes in a signed article in this regard:

It is beneficial for Japan, too, to sincerely repent of its crime-woven past.

The most shuddering crime committed by the Japanese imperialists against the Korean people in the first half of the last century was that they forcibly drafted, abducted and seduced 200,000 Korean women into serving as "comfort women" for the Imperial Japanese Army.

The issue of the "comfort women" is an important issue to be settled by the Japanese government with responsibility from state and legal points of view.

With nothing can Japan cover up or whitewash the crimes it committed against Korean and other Asian peoples in the past. It is an issue of the past pending thorough settlement and, at the same time, a sensitive and outstanding political issue.

If Japan tries to bury into oblivion its past crimes, far from making sincere apology, repentance and settlement, it will only add to its past crimes.

No matter how much water may flow under the bridge the Korean people will never forget the Japanese imperialists' history of aggression on Korea ridden with monstrous crimes and will certainly force Japan to pay dearly for its crimes.

Japan is well advised to face up to reality and opt for settling the past as early as possible.