November 19, 2025Nov 19, 2025
KCNA Pyongyang Times

The world of difference in facing up to the past

Date: 22/05/2020 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that memory never fades away and we cannot get rid of our past and that it is not a shame to admit the responsibility but to deny it at a wreath-laying ceremony held in Berlin in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War on May 8.

Some 80 years ago, Nazi Germany started World War II plunging about 80 percent of the world population into the ravages of war. During the war, many people lost their lives or became crippled for life. Since then, Germany has made compensation for the damage to the victims of the war in several stages in its efforts to atone for its wrongdoings as a war criminal state. Such a high-minded behaviour of Germany which admits and apologizes for the evil doings of the past even today arouses sympathy of the international community.

However, in sharp contrast to that, there is one brazen-faced country which does neither compensate nor even apologize for its bloodstained past, but rather praises it and whets the sword for revenge.

It is none other than Japan that had inflicted enormous damage on the Asian peoples, clamouring for the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere.

It had spotted Korea as an outpost and supply base for invading the Asian continent well over a hundred years ago and occupied the country by force of arms in the early 20th century and sucked the blood of the Korean people for over 40 years.

It also occupied a large part of the continent including China and killed lots of innocent people and even committed such a heinous unethical crime of robbing invaluable cultural heritage elements and assets.

It is the height of moral baseness and impudence that Japan persistently denies such heinous crimes, evades the responsibility for liquidating the past and tries to realize its old pipedream.

Japanese Prime Minister Abe in his New Year message for this year stressed the need for constitutional revision to specify the existence of the Self-Defence Forces and on April 21 presented an offering to the Yasukuni Shrine, the spiritual symbol of militarism, together with high-ranking officials as part of the spring sacrificial rite.

Japan rebuilt the “territory and sovereignty exhibition hall”, which stores documents justifying its wild territorial ambition, in a scale seven times that of the previous one and is building up the capacity of the Self-Defence Forces, ruffling the feathers of neighbouring countries.

More From Pyongyang Times

DPRK women footballers back home

DPRK women footballers back home

The reliable women footballers of the DPRK won the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup this year following last year, and lifted the

November 18, 2025

The reliable women footballers of the DPRK won the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup this year following last year, and lifted the

Mother's Day celebrated

Mother's Day celebrated

The people across the DPRK significantly marked Mother's Day. People visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the sacred temple of

November 18, 2025

The people across the DPRK significantly marked Mother's Day. People visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the sacred temple of

Production increases at Sunchon Cement Complex

Production increases at Sunchon Cement Complex

The Sunchon Cement Complex is ramping up its production. Thanks to the devoted efforts of its workers to unconditionally attain

November 18, 2025

The Sunchon Cement Complex is ramping up its production. Thanks to the devoted efforts of its workers to unconditionally attain

Thousands of rural dwelling houses built in Ryanggang Province

Thousands of rural dwelling houses built in Ryanggang Province

The construction of thousands of rural dwellings planned for this year has been successfully completed in Ryanggang Province. The

November 18, 2025

The construction of thousands of rural dwellings planned for this year has been successfully completed in Ryanggang Province. The

Lao foreign minister leaves Pyongyang

Lao foreign minister leaves Pyongyang

Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and his party left Pyongyang on November 15

November 17, 2025

Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and his party left Pyongyang on November 15

Delegation of Russian news agency leaves for home

Delegation of Russian news agency leaves for home

The delegation of the Russian news agency Segodnya led by First Deputy Editor-in-Chief Sergei Kochetkov left Pyongyang for home on

November 17, 2025

The delegation of the Russian news agency Segodnya led by First Deputy Editor-in-Chief Sergei Kochetkov left Pyongyang for home on

Russian FM blames Europe for hostile policy

Russian FM blames Europe for hostile policy

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the hostile policy of Europe in a recent interview with an Italian newspaper.

November 17, 2025

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the hostile policy of Europe in a recent interview with an Italian newspaper.

Chinese FM spokesman decries Japanese prime minister’s remarks

Chinese FM spokesman decries Japanese prime minister’s remarks

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry at a press conference on November 10 denounced the Japanese prime minister’s reckless

November 16, 2025

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry at a press conference on November 10 denounced the Japanese prime minister’s reckless

Promoting progress and development of civilization of humankind

Promoting progress and development of civilization of humankind

November 16 is the founding anniversary of UNESCO. A meeting of the preparatory committee for founding UNESCO took place in London

November 16, 2025

November 16 is the founding anniversary of UNESCO. A meeting of the preparatory committee for founding UNESCO took place in London

Lao Foreign Minister visits Kumsusan Palace of Sun

Lao Foreign Minister visits Kumsusan Palace of Sun

Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to pay

November 15, 2025

Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to pay

Premier Pak meets Lao Foreign Minister

Premier Pak meets Lao Foreign Minister

Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister

November 15, 2025

Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister

Credentials of Indian ambassador accepted

Credentials of Indian ambassador accepted

Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was presented with the credentials of

November 15, 2025

Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was presented with the credentials of

DPRK team sets new records in 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup

DPRK team sets new records in 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup

The DPRK team set several new records in the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup held in Morocco. It won every match in the event and

November 15, 2025

The DPRK team set several new records in the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup held in Morocco. It won every match in the event and

More Articles