They cooked up a relevant document by describing them as "industrial structures that contributed to the modernization of Japan." They are working hard to have it finally examined at the 39th meeting of the World Heritage Committee of the UNESCO.

This is an extremely base act to justify the Japanese imperialists' 40- odd year-long military occupation of Korea and another unpardonable hideous crime against humanity.

The above-said places bear witness to the misfortune and pain suffered by Koreans under the Japanese imperialists' colonial rule.

At least 7,000 young and middle-aged Koreans were forced to do slave labor baffling human imagination at the Mitsubishi Shipyard and only one man survived when the Hashima Coal Mine was abandoned.

The Mitsubishi Shipyard and Hashima Coal Mine are among the industrial establishments that raked up huge profits at the cost of the blood and sweat of Koreans and other Asian people conscripted by the Japanese imperialists.

The above-said bid of Japan is, indeed, a reckless act against humanity and a shameless brigandish act quite contrary to common sense.

Japan is the only country which has refused to redress its past history in the new century though it committed thrice-cursed crimes against the Korean people. Yet, it is trying hard to advertise those grudge-bearing sites.

What Japan is doing goes to clearly prove that it is no more than a political pigmy and morally depraved country.

What we would like to emphasize is that the past history of aggression can neither be written off nor be justified no matter how hard Japan may deny or embellish it.

Japan's base move censured and rejected by world people is quite contrary to the purpose and spirit of the world cultural heritage registration.

Tokyo's hectic diplomacy would only bring shame to it. It is a mockery of world cultural heritage to allow such bid.

The souls of Korean ancestors who met death with their grudge unsettled still haunt the above-said sites. Japan's move to have those places registered as "heritages" and attract tourists can never be pardoned.

The brazen-faced move of Japan will only touch off stronger protest and criticism among the Asian people including Koreans.