April 25, 2024
KCNA Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EN)

Abduction and Drafting of Koreans – Gravest Crimes With No Statutory Limitations (2)

Date: 23/11/2021 | Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EN) | Read original version at source

Inhumane Treatment and Suffering Imposed

Upon Coercively Drafted Koreans

Japan that had coercively abducted and drafted the Korean people forced them into the hard labor in a barbarous manner which would make the slave labor in the ancient time blush.

The cruel and barbarous nature of the slave labor forced by Japan was, first of all, manifested by the intensity of maltreatment and exploitation of the Korean workers by the Japanese employers, as they were given a blank cheque even to kill the Korean workers.

A Japanese man who had been in charge of labor management at the Hashima coal mine in Nagasaki, Japan, testified that the Japanese in charge of labor management had had a virtual right to either take or spare the lives of Korean workers. This testimony alone gives a glimpse of the miserable life of the Korean workers at that time.

The cruel and barbarous nature of slave labor forced by Japan was also expressed by the fact that it was utterly an unpaid forced labor.

According to the testimonies made by the victims who had been forced into the slave labor at coal mines and construction sites, they were not paid for the reason that they could flee if they were paid, and they were told that their wages were saved and recorded in the savings passbook but it turned out to be an outright lie.

Some of wages were occasionally paid in the form of check or voucher but those could only be used at the shops within the working places, not the outside.

Last but not least, the cruel and barbarous nature of slave labor forced by Japan was illustrated by the extreme national discrimination.

The Japanese authorities posted the drafted Koreans only to the sectors of heavy and dangerous labor which the Japanese workers used to shirk.

They drove the Koreans into the sectors of dangerous and backbreaking labor such as blasting and removal of earth at the open working places in ore mines, coal mines, dam building of power plant, road construction etc.

Worse still, they didn’t hesitate to commit such atrocities as burying the Koreans alive or burning to death in case the Koreans were found incapable of working due to unbearable heavy work, malnourishment and diseases.

So much so that the Korean people’s wounds of bitterness caused by all sorts of inhumane treatment and slave exploitation by Japan remain unhealed yet.

Kim Jong Hyok

Researcher, Institute for Studies of Japan

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DPRK

(To be continued)

More From Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EN)

Press Statement by Im Chon Il, DPRK Vice Foreign Minister

Press Statement by Im Chon Il, DPRK Vice Foreign Minister

April 25 is a meaningful day that marks the 5 th anniversary of the first historic meeting between Comrade Kim Jong Un ,

April 25, 2024

April 25 is a meaningful day that marks the 5 th anniversary of the first historic meeting between Comrade Kim Jong Un ,

Great History and Tradition Will Be Immortal

Great History and Tradition Will Be Immortal

At such a historic time when a new era of overall national prosperity has opened up, our people are significantly celebrating the

April 25, 2024

At such a historic time when a new era of overall national prosperity has opened up, our people are significantly celebrating the

Russia Denounces U.S. for Deteriorating Situation

Russia Denounces U.S. for Deteriorating Situation

Antonov, Russian Ambassador to the U.S., answered to the question raised by the journalists in regard to the assertion made by the

April 24, 2024

Antonov, Russian Ambassador to the U.S., answered to the question raised by the journalists in regard to the assertion made by the

DPRK Foreign Ministry Official Issues Press Statement

DPRK Foreign Ministry Official Issues Press Statement

The chief of the Foreign News Section of the Department of Press and Information of the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued the following

April 24, 2024

The chief of the Foreign News Section of the Department of Press and Information of the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued the following

Immortal Army-Building Exploits

Immortal Army-Building Exploits

April 25 is a significant day in the DPRK greeting the 92 nd anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Revolutionary

April 24, 2024

April 25 is a significant day in the DPRK greeting the 92 nd anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Revolutionary

China Opposes “AUKUS”-Japan Collusion

China Opposes “AUKUS”-Japan Collusion

Recently, the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that China expressed strong opposition, on several occasions, t

April 22, 2024

Recently, the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that China expressed strong opposition, on several occasions, t

Iran Slams U.S. and the West for Patronizing Israel

Iran Slams U.S. and the West for Patronizing Israel

On April 14, Iran attacked the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories in retaliation for Israel’s missile strike on the

April 21, 2024

On April 14, Iran attacked the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories in retaliation for Israel’s missile strike on the

Press Statement by DPRK Vice Foreign Minister

Press Statement by DPRK Vice Foreign Minister

Kim Son Gyong, Vice-Minister for International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s

April 19, 2024

Kim Son Gyong, Vice-Minister for International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s

Talks Held between Vice Foreign Ministers of DPRK and Belarus

Talks Held between Vice Foreign Ministers of DPRK and Belarus

Talks were held between Comrade Im Chon Il, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and

April 19, 2024

Talks were held between Comrade Im Chon Il, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and

Greetings to Indonesian FM

Greetings to Indonesian FM

Choe Son Hui, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to her

April 19, 2024

Choe Son Hui, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to her

Greetings to Syrian FM

Greetings to Syrian FM

Choe Son Hui, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to Fayssal

April 19, 2024

Choe Son Hui, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to Fayssal

Greetings to Syrian PM

Greetings to Syrian PM

Kim Tok Hun, Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to Housain Arnous,

April 19, 2024

Kim Tok Hun, Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to Housain Arnous,

DPRK FM Receives Greetings from Her Indonesian Counterpart

DPRK FM Receives Greetings from Her Indonesian Counterpart

Choe Son Hui, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), received a message of greetings

April 19, 2024

Choe Son Hui, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), received a message of greetings

Foreigners Pay Congratulatory Visits to DPRK Missions Abroad

Foreigners Pay Congratulatory Visits to DPRK Missions Abroad

Personages of various circles of different countries paid congratulatory visits to the DPRK missions in their countries from April

April 18, 2024

Personages of various circles of different countries paid congratulatory visits to the DPRK missions in their countries from April

More Articles