Solidarity activities were staged in succession in more than 40 cities of 9 countries and regions including the United States, Germany, Canada and Italy.

At least 1 000 Wednesday rallies have been staged outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul since Jan. 8, 1992 under the auspices of the south Korean Council for the Solution of the Issue of the Volunteers' Corps. Not long ago, a peace monument was erected in reflection of the unanimous demand of south Koreans of different social standings.

The monument reflects the grudge of the Korean women who were taken to be sexual slaves for the Imperial Japanese Army.

Japan, however, is shameless enough to call for the removal of the monument in disregard of the atmosphere of the international community critical of the sexual slavery for the Imperial Japanese Army.

Japan had committed the most heinous crimes against ethics in history during its 40 odd-year-long colonial rule over Korea.

It forced 200 000 Korean women into sexual slavery for the Imperial Japanese Army. This was the most despicable and cruel crime in terms of barbarous and organized nature and scale.

What should not be overlooked is that the Japanese reactionaries have become evermore undisguised in their attempts to deny the above-said crime in recent years when the international community is becoming more vocal demanding Japan's settlement of its past.

They went the lengths of blustering that "Japan does not feel guilty of any wrongdoing during World War Ⅱ". Moreover, they called for amending the statement made by Chief Cabinet Secretary Kono in 1993 in which he admitted Japan's responsibility for "comfort women".

This is the present reality of Japan.

Japan is the most impudent and brazen-faced country in the world.

Japan is shrewd and self-interested. But there is one thing Japan cannot go without settling.

Japan has evaded its responsibility for its past crimes up to this date. For this it has not shaken off the disgrace of being a political pigmy.

More than 60 years have passed since the end of World War Ⅱ, but the international community still regards Japan as an untrustworthy state as it has not yet settled its past.

This amounts to the biggest political loss to Japan, several hundred dearer than the economic price it has to pay for its past wrongs.

Japan's denial of its crimes against ethics in the last century which make even animals blush is only adding to its past crimes.

Japan would be well advised to come down to earth and opt for settling its crime-woven past.