January 18, 2026Jan 18, 2026
KCNA KCNA.kp (En)

KCNA Commentary on Japan's Thirst for Territorial Expansion

Date: 08/04/2021 | Source: KCNA.kp (En) | Read original version at source

Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- Days ago, a deputy chief Cabinet secretary of Japan, at a recent press conference, insisted that "Sea of Japan" is the only official term internationally recognized, saying it is inappropriate to use the term East Sea.

This is a clear manifestation of the wild ambition for invading Korea, which is being pursued by the Japanese reactionaries seeking to turn whole Korea into their colony again while justifying the history of the Japanese imperialists' invasion of Korea.

To know why the East Sea of Korea had been called "Sea of Japan", it is necessary to scrutinize the crime-woven history of the Japanese imperialists who committed untold crimes against the Korean nation during their colonial rule over it.

After the "1868 Meiji Restoration", the Japanese imperialists stepped up their moves for materializing their policy of occupying Korea as their colony. In 1929 the imperialists, by abusing their suzerainty, got the term "Sea of Japan" registered in the International Hydrography Organization, instead of the term East Sea of Korea. Finally, the Korean nation lost even the name of the sea they had used for thousands of years.

The gravity of the issue lies in Japan's desperate moves to have the illegal term "Sea of Japan" recognized by the international community even after its defeat.

Japan advertises a map describing the East Sea of Korea as "Sea of Japan" on the Internet. Its authorities are insisting in the international arena that "Sea of Japan" is the term acknowledged by history and it has nothing to do with the past colonial rule.

However, the eastern sea of Korea is clearly termed the East Sea of Korea not only in "Samguksagi", "Samgukyusa", "History of Koryo Kingdom", "Chronicles of the Feudal Joson Dynasty" and other classic documents of Korea but also in old geography books and maps of Japan and other countries.

The term East Sea of Korea is an entirely just one in the light of major international usage concerning the naming of seas, the principle of fidelity to historical truth, the custom of naming seas after continental countries, the geographical azimuth standards and the principle of getting rid of colonial vestiges.

If the term "Sea of Japan", a leftover of Japanese imperialists' colonialism, remains alive, it will only help justify the history of the Japanese fascists' invasion of Korea and provide the present authorities of Japan with a plausible excuse to evade the atonement for the past crimes.

At present the Japanese reactionaries are busy with their military preparations. They frantically stage drills for retaking an island, while clamoring for using the term "Sea of Japan" and securing "dominium over Tok Island".

This proves that Japan's far-fetched assertions are prompted by its black-hearted design to invent pretexts for reinvasion.

The term "Sea of Japan" is a criminal one representing the history of the Japanese imperialists' colonial rule, the outcome of Japan's policy of militaristic expansion and the synonym for the imperialist aggression.

Today the whole Korean nation keeps keener eyes on Japan's history distortion and its moves to seize others' territory that have gone beyond the red line.

Japan must desist from the anachronistic history distortion and pursuance of territorial expansion. -0-

More From KCNA.kp (En)

Art Performance Given to Mark 80th Founding Anniversary of SPYL

Art Performance Given to Mark 80th Founding Anniversary of SPYL

Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- An art performance of the art squad of the Central Committee of the Socialist Patriotic Youth

January 18, 2026

Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- An art performance of the art squad of the Central Committee of the Socialist Patriotic Youth

Evening Gala Held to Mark 80th Birthday of SPYL

Evening Gala Held to Mark 80th Birthday of SPYL

Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- An evening gala of youth and students was held in Pyongyang on Saturday evening to celebrate the

January 18, 2026

Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- An evening gala of youth and students was held in Pyongyang on Saturday evening to celebrate the

Founding Anniversary of SPYL Celebrated in DPRK

Founding Anniversary of SPYL Celebrated in DPRK

Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- The young people all over the DPRK significantly celebrated the 80th founding anniversary of the

January 18, 2026

Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- The young people all over the DPRK significantly celebrated the 80th founding anniversary of the

New Houses Built in Nampho of DPRK

New Houses Built in Nampho of DPRK

Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- Modern houses, symbolic of the era of the Workers' Party, have been built at the Usan Cotton Farm

January 18, 2026

Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- Modern houses, symbolic of the era of the Workers' Party, have been built at the Usan Cotton Farm

Production of Machinery and Equipment Increased in DPRK

Production of Machinery and Equipment Increased in DPRK

Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- Workers in the vehicle-building industry of the DPRK are revitalizing production in the new year.

January 18, 2026

Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- Workers in the vehicle-building industry of the DPRK are revitalizing production in the new year.

Pyongyang Onban

Pyongyang Onban

Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- Among the peculiar dishes traditionally handed down in Korea is Pyongyang Onban (cooked rice

January 18, 2026

Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- Among the peculiar dishes traditionally handed down in Korea is Pyongyang Onban (cooked rice

Overhauling of Farm Machines Brisk in N. Hwanghae Province of DPRK

Overhauling of Farm Machines Brisk in N. Hwanghae Province of DPRK

Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- Overhauling of farm machines is brisk in North Hwanghae Province of the DPRK. The Sariwon Tractor

January 18, 2026

Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- Overhauling of farm machines is brisk in North Hwanghae Province of the DPRK. The Sariwon Tractor

Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang

Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- It has been ten years since the Sci-Tech Complex declared its inauguration. The complex has

January 17, 2026

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- It has been ten years since the Sci-Tech Complex declared its inauguration. The complex has

Korean Youth Movement Steadily Makes Proud History of Development

Korean Youth Movement Steadily Makes Proud History of Development

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- The Socialist Patriotic Youth League marks the 80th anniversary of its founding. The Korean youth

January 17, 2026

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- The Socialist Patriotic Youth League marks the 80th anniversary of its founding. The Korean youth

Press Review

Press Review

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in leading newspapers of the DPRK on Saturday: - A

January 17, 2026

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in leading newspapers of the DPRK on Saturday: - A

Labor Feats of DPRK Young People

Labor Feats of DPRK Young People

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- From the historic day when a mass political organization of the Korean youth was born, the young

January 17, 2026

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- From the historic day when a mass political organization of the Korean youth was born, the young

Sports Schools in Pyongyang Improve Teaching and Training

Sports Schools in Pyongyang Improve Teaching and Training

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- Various sports schools in Pyongyang are teaching and training students in a more scientific way.

January 17, 2026

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- Various sports schools in Pyongyang are teaching and training students in a more scientific way.

Farm Machines Exhibition Goes on in DPRK

Farm Machines Exhibition Goes on in DPRK

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- The farm machines exhibition "Development of Farm Machines-2025" is going on in the DPRK every

January 17, 2026

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- The farm machines exhibition "Development of Farm Machines-2025" is going on in the DPRK every

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Sends Birthday Spreads to Centenarians

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Sends Birthday Spreads to Centenarians

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent birthday spreads to Kim Sun Han, a woman centenarian living

January 17, 2026

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent birthday spreads to Kim Sun Han, a woman centenarian living

New Houses Built in South Hwanghae Province of DPRK

New Houses Built in South Hwanghae Province of DPRK

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- New houses have been built at the Kwangchon Farm in Kangryong County and the Sowon Farm in

January 17, 2026

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- New houses have been built at the Kwangchon Farm in Kangryong County and the Sowon Farm in

Atlantic Salmon Pedigree Farm Inaugurated in DPRK

Atlantic Salmon Pedigree Farm Inaugurated in DPRK

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- The Jikha Atlantic Salmon Pedigree Farm was inaugurated in North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK.

January 17, 2026

Pyongyang, January 17 (KCNA) -- The Jikha Atlantic Salmon Pedigree Farm was inaugurated in North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK.

More Articles