Pyongyang, November 9 (KCNA) -- Whether the DPRK-Japan relations are normalized or not depends on whether Japan takes a bold decision to redress the disgraceful past and roll back the hostile policy toward the DPRK, says Rodong Sinmun Wednesday in a by-lined article.

It is prerequisite for Japan to liquidate the past to normalize the relations with the DPRK, the article says, and goes on:

The two countries have had abnormal relations for a long time because of the Koreans' bitter feelings to Japan's past crimes. Therefore, it is necessary to remove those feelings for the two countries to start normal relations. That is Japan's liquidation of its past crimes. This is an issue for Japan, an assailant, to pay down its debt to the Korean nation which fell victim to it.

The liquidation of the past is what Japan may do or may not do. This is an issue that needs an urgent solution for the improvement of the DPRK-Japan relations at present. Everything proceeds according to its order and there is always a key link. Same can be said for Japan's redress for the past.

To put the DPRK-Japan relations on a normal track, Japan has to drop its hostile policy toward the DPRK.

The Japanese authorities leave no means untried to isolate the DPRK internationally and apply pressure and sanctions against it under the pretext of "threat".

Now is the time for Japan to drop the hostile policy toward the DPRK. To do so conforms with the trend of the times toward positive development of good-neighborly and friendly relations among countries, the interests of the Japanese people and the desire and demand of the world people.

Whether the DPRK and Japan pull down the political barrier that had long remained frozen and normalize the relations or not entirely depends on Japan's decision to liquidate the past and roll back the hostile policy toward the DPRK.