The German government recently decided to return an art piece, which had been plundered by a Nazi soldier during the Second World War, to Italy. The German authorities resolved to return it to the previous owner of the picture after negotiating with a descendant of the Nazi soldier. They were genuinely motivated by the judgment that such a priceless picture should belong to the relevant art gallery.
Minju Joson in a commentary on Tuesday said that such a decision is winning the sympathy and support of the international community as it shows the proper attitude of the German government towards the past.
The commentary went on:
The settlement of the past is not a practical matter on payment of a paltry amount of money, but a serious political one to make one repent of one's past sins, prevent such inglorious past crimes and open up a sound and rosy future of mankind.
However, Japan is following the path entirely different from Germany's to be hated and despised by the international community.
Japan has denied history and refused to settle the past, insisting that it did nothing wrong in the past; and it went the lengths of demanding the removal of the symbols of its past crimes in different parts of the world, and of leaving no stone unturned to disguise itself as a victim.
The stand of the Japanese authorities towards the past crimes constitutes a challenge to the justice and human conscience and shows how base Japan's morality is.
History is impartial and justice is everlasting. The more desperately Japan tries to evade its responsibility for the settlement of the past, the more awkward political situation will face it; its future will be gloomy.
Expressions representing the times
The Korean people call the present times the golden age of construction and the new era of comprehensive development of socialism.
December 16, 2025
The Korean people call the present times the golden age of construction and the new era of comprehensive development of socialism.
