Minju Joson in a bylined commentary Wednesday says that Japan is being pointed by the accusing finger, hoisting with its own petard.

The international community has long urged Japan to clean up its inglorious past and turn over a new leaf, it says, and goes on:

Japan has persistently whitewashed and covered up the past crimes despite the unanimous demands of the people of Korea and other Asian countries.

It is a human ethic to make an apology for a crime and make reparation to the victim.

The Japanese reactionaries are seriously mistaken if they think they can go scot-free without redressing the hideous crimes against humanity.

Japan's defending the crime-woven history and evading the settlement will touch off bitterer protests and condemnation worldwide.

For Japan to make a sincere repentance of the crime-woven history as well as an apology and reparation is the only way out.

Japan should be aware of this and make a bold decision to settle the past at an early date.