Rodong Sinmun Wednesday observes in a bylined commentary in this regard:

What Abe uttered is the brazen-faced and impudent assertion and a far-fetched insistence that white is black to gratify his greed.

The sexual slavery for the Imperial Japanese Army was neither commercial transaction by a few brokers nor "voluntary practice" of "comfort women". This was the hideous crime against humanity planned and perpetrated by the government authorities and aggressors.

The Korean people's grudge against Japan can never be settled no matter how many times the Japanese reactionaries may beg for a pardon, their knees bent. This being a hard fact, the Japanese reactionaries are working hard to justify the sexual slavery unprecedented in history and keep it buried into oblivion.

The Japanese authorities have been so base and wicked in its attitude that even the U.S. authorities, their senior ally, served a warning to them.

Abe in his public appearance once again denied the direct involvement of the Imperial Japanese Army in the sexual slavery. This was prompted by his sinister intention to make Japan repeat its past history in the future so that it may realize its old dream of the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" and emerge "leader of Asia".

Japan seeks to win public mind-set with a high-sounding motto to regain the position of "strong Japan" and put spurs to the militarist chariot for realizing its scenario for turning itself into a military giant and launching overseas reinvasion. This is the situation of Japan today.

However, there is something the Japanese politicians should bear in mind.

Human beings must be placed above politics and conscience and morality above law.

Japan should make an unconditional and honest apology and reparation for its past crimes. This is the only way for it to live as a member of the international community.