On October 17, the new Japanese Prime Minister sent an offering to the Yasukuni Shrine.
The Yasukuni Shrine enshrines the name tablets of top war criminals who were punished by history as they started wars of aggression against humanity and wrecked world peace in the last century.
The Prime Minister’s offering of tribute to the shrine, which is a symbol of Japanese imperialism, is an explicit denial of Japan’s past unethical crimes and a serious challenge to the international community.
It can never be regarded as an annual or common event for the incumbent head of government to do such a thing at the time when the international community is raising voices in demand of an apology and reparations for Japan’s past wrongs.
In the light of the behaviour of Japan that does not admit its heinous unethical crimes, far from apologizing for them, the tribute offering is a revelation of the sinister design to negate the sins, conjure the ghost of militarism and revenge its defeat in the Second World War and also part of its manoeuvres to realize the wild ambition for reinvasion it keeps harbouring no matter how much time passes. This shows that the current regime is as reactionary as the preceding governments that pursued the revival of militarism.
Saying that Japan was defeated as it was weak, successive ultra-right regimes of the country set it as a state policy to turn it into a military power and squandered a huge sum of money to that end.
They have also obstinately avoided the admission of its past wrongdoings and tried to cover them up. A typical example is their relentless denial of the crime concerning the sexual slavery for the Japanese imperial army which is the butt of international censure and rejection.
Another purpose of Japan’s denial is to evade the settlement of the past.
It calculates that if it keeps denying its history of aggression and crimes, they would sink into oblivion and it would be able to be freed from the responsibility for reparations.
History can never be changed or erased even if anyone keeps denying it.
Japan must break away from militarism and make sincere soul-searching and reparations for the past wrongs, instead of ridiculously scheming to invoke the ghost of militarism and wipe out the past crimes. Only then can it be forgiven by the international community including neighbouring countries and be its honourable member.
Apology and reparations for past sins are an inevitable fate of the defeated nation of Japan.
More From Pyongyang Times
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryavkov referred to the issue of national security in an interview with a TV channel on
February 11, 2026
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryavkov referred to the issue of national security in an interview with a TV channel on
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of China at a press conference on February 4 censured the Japanese prime minister for insisti
February 11, 2026
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of China at a press conference on February 4 censured the Japanese prime minister for insisti
Grand construction began in Hwaphyong, Phyonggang, Riwon, Myonggan and Samsu counties to build regional-industry factories,
February 11, 2026
Grand construction began in Hwaphyong, Phyonggang, Riwon, Myonggan and Samsu counties to build regional-industry factories,
The 11th National Pencil Drawing Festival opened in Pyongyang in celebration of the 84th birth anniversary of Chairman Kim Jong
February 11, 2026
The 11th National Pencil Drawing Festival opened in Pyongyang in celebration of the 84th birth anniversary of Chairman Kim Jong
The Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in December 2021 put forward a
February 11, 2026
The Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in December 2021 put forward a
Students and other young men and women from across the country gathered at the plaza before the statues of President Kim Il Sung
February 11, 2026
Students and other young men and women from across the country gathered at the plaza before the statues of President Kim Il Sung
"Nyomaeng" small tractors, provided by women's union organizations through a do-good-thing movement with the Ninth Congress of the
February 11, 2026
"Nyomaeng" small tractors, provided by women's union organizations through a do-good-thing movement with the Ninth Congress of the
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the economic issue at a conference held on February 4. The inflation rate decreased
February 10, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the economic issue at a conference held on February 4. The inflation rate decreased
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China denounced the Japanese right-wing forces’ ambition for rearmament at a pr
February 10, 2026
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China denounced the Japanese right-wing forces’ ambition for rearmament at a pr
Officials, service personnel, working people, youth and students in the DPRK visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and
February 10, 2026
Officials, service personnel, working people, youth and students in the DPRK visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and
All the people and service personnel of the DPRK significantly celebrated the 78th founding anniversary of the Korean People's
February 10, 2026
All the people and service personnel of the DPRK significantly celebrated the 78th founding anniversary of the Korean People's
A dance party of women's union officials and members was held at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang on February 8, the
February 10, 2026
A dance party of women's union officials and members was held at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang on February 8, the
Dance parties of youth and students were held in the DPRK on February 8, the 78th anniversary of the founding of the Korean
February 10, 2026
Dance parties of youth and students were held in the DPRK on February 8, the 78th anniversary of the founding of the Korean
Regional construction projects for the new year are being launched in the DPRK in a three-dimensional way and on a full scale,
February 10, 2026
Regional construction projects for the new year are being launched in the DPRK in a three-dimensional way and on a full scale,
The newly-built Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm has harvested vegetables for the first time this year. With high pride in living
February 10, 2026
The newly-built Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm has harvested vegetables for the first time this year. With high pride in living
The Song and Dance Ensemble of the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK gave a music and dance performance at the Ponghwa Art
February 10, 2026
The Song and Dance Ensemble of the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK gave a music and dance performance at the Ponghwa Art
No Kwang Chol, Jong Kyong Thaek, Ri Yong Gil and other commanding officers of the Ministry of National Defence and commanders of
February 10, 2026
No Kwang Chol, Jong Kyong Thaek, Ri Yong Gil and other commanding officers of the Ministry of National Defence and commanders of
The German chancellor asserted in a speech on February 2 that Europe should cope with the change in transatlantic relations.
February 09, 2026
The German chancellor asserted in a speech on February 2 that Europe should cope with the change in transatlantic relations.
Hungary brought a legal action to the European Court of Justice on February 2 in protest against the decision of the European
February 09, 2026
Hungary brought a legal action to the European Court of Justice on February 2 in protest against the decision of the European
“Jingmaeng” farm machines, provided by the trade union organizations ahead of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, w
February 09, 2026
“Jingmaeng” farm machines, provided by the trade union organizations ahead of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, w
More Articles