calendar>>September 1. 2010 Juch 99

Japan's Settlement of Its Past Crimes Urged in S. Korea

Pyongyang, September 1 (KCNA) -- The "south Korea-Japan Committee for Joint Actions on the Lapse of the Century since the Forced Annexation of Korea to Japan" grouping at least 140 civic organizations in south Korea and Japan released a "joint declaration of south Korean and Japanese citizens for demanding the settlement of the crimes committed during the colonial rule and achieving peace" in Seoul on August 29.

The declaration held that the brigandish "Korea-Japan Annexation Treaty" was illegal and invalid in the light of international law.

Due to the colonial rule of the Japanese imperialists and its consequences Korea was divided into the south and the north, the declaration said, accusing Japan of refusing still to make apology and reparation for all this.

It demanded that the Japanese government probe the truth about the forcible drafting, forced labor and conscription of Koreans, etc. and make apology and reparation for all crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists.

It also urged Japan to stop tampering with history and its moves to grab Tok Islets.

The South Headquarters of the Pan-national Alliance for Korea's Reunification stressed in a statement on the same day that the Korean nation would never tolerate the aggression committed by Japan but surely force it to make apology and reparation for such crime.