Rodong Sinmun Monday observes in a signed commentary in this regard:

This clearly indicates that the hideous crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists against humanity can never be concealed and the Japanese government can never evade the responsibility for liquidating its past crimes no matter how much water may flow under the bridge.

Germany honestly reflected on its past wrongs and has worked hard to fully redeem them. Quite contrary to this attitude of Germany, Japan has persistently evaded its responsibility and obligation to liquidate its past crimes, thus becoming the target of the world rebuff and condemnation.

The world is demanding Japan redeem its past crimes not merely out of the sympathy with the aging victims but is prompted by its desire to keep Japan from following the footsteps of the Japanese imperialists and the wish to build a world where such historic tragedy does not repeat itself.

Japan is persistently dodging the settlement of its past crimes in a bid to repeat its crime-woven past. This is evidenced by the fact that Japan is putting spurs to the moves to revive militarism and turn itself into a military power, obsessed by the ambition to realize the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere".

The persistent efforts on the part of Japan to go without redressing its past crimes would only touch off bitterer worldwide criticism of it and precipitate its thorough international isolation.

Japan's settlement of its past crimes is not something for others but for itself. It would be well advised to properly understand this and redress its past crimes as early as possible.