Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- A joint academic seminar for checking Japan's invasion of Tok Islets and urging Japan to redress its past was opened in Pyongyang and Seoul on Monday on the lapse of 101 years since the Japanese imperialists' fabrication of the "Korea-Japan Annexation Treaty."

It was expected to hold the seminar in Kaesong with the north, the south and overseas sides present, but the south side authorities disallowed the participation of the south side delegation in the seminar, compelling them to hold it separately.

The north-side academic seminar took place at the Central Hall of Workers.

Present there were members of the North Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration and various sub-committees, the North Headquarters of the Pan-National Alliance for Korea's Reunification and the Pan-National Alliance of Youth and Students for Korea's Reunification and officials in the fields of social science, education and media.

Prior to the seminar, a letter of solidarity sent by the Overseas Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration was read out.

The issue of defending the territory and sovereignty of Korea is a nation-wide task, the letter said, calling on the political parties, organizations and personages in the north, the south and abroad to firmly solidarize with each other in the struggle to check Japan's reinvasion and urge Japan to redress its past.

The floor was taken by Ri Jong Hyok, chairman of the Academic Sub-Committee of the North Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration, Kim Chun Sil, member of the Committee on Measures for Compensation to Former Korean "Comfort Women" for Japanese Army and Drafting Victims, and Ho Jong Ho, member of the Academic Sub-Committee of the North Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration.

Proving that Tok Islets are part of the inviolable territory of Korea, they bitterly denounced Japan for its moves for reinvasion and called upon all Koreans to carry on their vigorous actions for checking and foiling its scenario for grabbing Tok Islets.

The sexual slavery for the Japanese imperialists is unpardonable, they noted, calling on the Korean women to force Japan to pay for the disgrace suffered by them.

Drawing attention to the persistent moves to distort the history in Japan, they called upon all Koreans to turn out in the struggle to force it to settle its past wrongdoings.

Then, papers on the above-said theme and texts of speeches from the south and overseas sides were introduced at the seminar.

A joint appeal of the North, South and Overseas Sides Committees for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration was adopted at the seminar.