In defiance of the decision, the Japanese authorities claimed that the postwar reparation issue had been "completely and finally settled", and clamored for counter-measures. And they went the lengths of imposing restrictions on export to south Korea.

Japan's shameless moves enrage all Koreans as it went abusive and reckless, far from making an apology and reparation for the thrice-cursed crimes it committed against the Korean nation, and even took the absolutely unjust retaliatory economic measures.

What should not be overlooked is that Japan is pulling up the DPRK under an absurd excuse that "key materials for semiconductor production may find its way into the north via south Korea".

This is a cunning artifice to justify the unreasonable economic retaliation by disguising it as an "issue related to national security" and "international issue," which constitutes a revelation of the trite hostile policy towards the DPRK and an intolerable political provocation against it.

Japan has no say as it still remains in the dock of the court of history.

The Korean nation suffered great human, material, spiritual and moral damage from the long occupation of Korea by the Japanese imperialists and their brutal colonial rule over it, and its aftereffects still continue along with national division.

Notwithstanding, the Japanese reactionaries have persistently evaded the atonement for the past while benefiting from adding fuel to the aggravation of situation in the Korean peninsula and the escalation of confrontation between the north and the south of Korea.

Though an unprecedented trend of peace settles in the region, Japan is running amuck to sacrifice the interests of the Korean nation and the peace of the region for its political tactics while putting all sorts hurdles in the improvement of the DPRK-U.S. and inter-Korean relations.

In fact, Japan has cried out for "cooperation in sanctions and pressure" on someone and "solidarity", if there is anything beneficial to it, but if not, it has not scrupled to hurt anyone. Such dishonest behavior of the island country shows to the international community once again how untrustworthy Japan is.

It is quite natural that Japan is put on the periphery of the trend of regional situation over the Korean peninsula.

Japan had better atone for the past first, well aware that it is in the dock.