Jyun Shimizu, deputy chief director of the Japan-Korea Cultural Interchange Association, addressing the meeting, urged Japan to honestly redeem as soon as possible its inglorious past colonial rule over Korea.

After the "Meiji Restoration" Japan justified its policy of aggression while instilling the superiority of Japan to Korea into its people, he said, adding: Japan faked up the "Unyo-maru" incident in 1875 and the "Kanghwa Island Treaty" in 1876, in particular, laying a springboard for aggression against Korea.

He noted: Japan achieved economic growth through its unequal economic activities in Korea in the past and "a high-rate of economic growth" by taking advantage of the Korean War that started in 1950. Japan developed at the sacrifice of Korea.

He urged Japan to push forward the process to improve the relations with the DPRK with a proper understanding of the past.

As the Korean Peninsula was divided due to the aftermath of Japan's colonial rule over Korea, one cannot say that Japan's "postwar" period is over as long as the peninsula remains divided, he said, adding: If the U.S. blocks its reunification, the Japanese government should follow a diplomatic policy to oppose it.

This reflects voices of conscience not only of Jyun Shimizu but all the Japanese desirous of the normal development of Japan and peace and stability of Asia.

To normalize the relations between the DPRK and Japan is the common aspiration and desire of the peoples of the two countries and their common interests.

A new phase was opened in improving the bilateral relations in the past because the politicians who were able to foresee the future came out with a determination to undertake a just work to normalize the bilateral relations amid the growing voices of the broad segments of the Japanese people calling for the improved relations. It was also possible thanks to a positive change in Japan's Korea policy.

What is essential for normalizing the bilateral relations is for Japan to fully redeem the crimes committed by it against Korea and its people in the past.

The bilateral relations could not be improved and a series of complicated issues cropped up as this issue has not yet been settled.

Japan should face up to the trend of the times, approach the issue of redeeming its past crimes with an honest stand and attitude and roll back its hostile policy and halt its hostile actions toward the DPRK as desired and required by the two peoples.