January 03, 2026Jan 03, 2026
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Abduction and drafting of Koreans – gravest crimes with no statute of limitations (2)

Date: 27/11/2021 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

Inhumane treatment and suffering imposed upon forcibly drafted Koreans

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

The cruel and barbarous nature of the slave labour 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 labour management at the Hashima coal mine in Nagasaki, Japan, testified that the Japanese in charge of labour 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 labour forced by Japan was also expressed by the fact that it was utterly an unpaid forced labour.

According to the testimonies made by the victims who had been forced into slave labour 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 cheque or voucher but those could only be used at the shops within the working places, not outside.

Last but not least, the cruel and barbarous nature of slave labour 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 labour which the Japanese workers used to shun.

They drove the Koreans into the sectors of dangerous and backbreaking labour such as blasting and removal of earth in all working places including ore mines, coal mines, dam building for power plant and road construction.

Worse still, they didn’t hesitate to commit such atrocities as burying alive or burning to death the Koreans who lost working ability due to unbearable heavy work, malnutrition and diseases.

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

More From Pyongyang Times

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visits Kumsusan Palace of Sun

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visits Kumsusan Palace of Sun

All the people across the DPRK are paying the highest respect to President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il, eternal leaders

January 02, 2026

All the people across the DPRK are paying the highest respect to President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il, eternal leaders

New Year celebration performance given in DPRK

New Year celebration performance given in DPRK

The hopeful New Year 2026 has come to the country dynamically advancing toward the grand goal of eternal prosperity for the

January 01, 2026

The hopeful New Year 2026 has come to the country dynamically advancing toward the grand goal of eternal prosperity for the

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un 's speech at New Year celebration

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un 's speech at New Year celebration

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a speech at a New Year celebration. The full text of his speech is as follows: Dear

January 01, 2026

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a speech at a New Year celebration. The full text of his speech is as follows: Dear

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Marking the New Year 2026, the Editorial Board of The Pyongyang Times extends warm greetings to all readers, who have got familiar

January 01, 2026

Marking the New Year 2026, the Editorial Board of The Pyongyang Times extends warm greetings to all readers, who have got familiar

Ceremonies of moving into new houses held in Jagang Province

Ceremonies of moving into new houses held in Jagang Province

Villages of the Konggwi Vegetable Farm in Kanggye City and the Kaewon Farm in Wiwon County, Jagang Province, underwent great

December 31, 2025

Villages of the Konggwi Vegetable Farm in Kanggye City and the Kaewon Farm in Wiwon County, Jagang Province, underwent great

Russia urges Japan to stop its attempt to negate war crimes

Russia urges Japan to stop its attempt to negate war crimes

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged Japan to stop its attempt to whitewash its war

December 31, 2025

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged Japan to stop its attempt to whitewash its war

Putin calls for fighting against history distortion

Putin calls for fighting against history distortion

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for fighting against the distortion of history as he addressed an informal summit meeting

December 30, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for fighting against the distortion of history as he addressed an informal summit meeting

Iranian FM criticizes hypocritical act of West

Iranian FM criticizes hypocritical act of West

A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry censured the West for its hypocritical act at a press conference on December 22. The

December 30, 2025

A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry censured the West for its hypocritical act at a press conference on December 22. The

New houses built in North Phyongan Province

New houses built in North Phyongan Province

New modern houses have been built in Amdu-ri of Jongju City, Pongnin-ri of Pakchon County and Pugil-ri of Unjon County in North

December 30, 2025

New modern houses have been built in Amdu-ri of Jongju City, Pongnin-ri of Pakchon County and Pugil-ri of Unjon County in North

Lots of rural youth workteams and sub-workteams reap good harvest

Lots of rural youth workteams and sub-workteams reap good harvest

The rich harvest in the socialist farm fields of the DPRK this year is associated with the efforts of the rural youth workteams

December 30, 2025

The rich harvest in the socialist farm fields of the DPRK this year is associated with the efforts of the rural youth workteams

New Year greeting cards issued

New Year greeting cards issued

Creators of the Art and Literature Publishing House and the Korean Central Fine Arts Studio and lecturers and students of

December 30, 2025

Creators of the Art and Literature Publishing House and the Korean Central Fine Arts Studio and lecturers and students of

Unsan Paper Mill inaugurated in South Phyongan Province

Unsan Paper Mill inaugurated in South Phyongan Province

At the time when the cheers for inaugurations celebrating the steady success in implementing the regional development policy are

December 29, 2025

At the time when the cheers for inaugurations celebrating the steady success in implementing the regional development policy are

Children’s rights and future of humankind

Children’s rights and future of humankind

To preserve the rights of children is an important issue related with the development of countries and nations and the future of h

December 29, 2025

To preserve the rights of children is an important issue related with the development of countries and nations and the future of h

New houses built at farms in South Phyongan Province

New houses built at farms in South Phyongan Province

New houses have appeared at the Samwon Industrial Crop Farm and the Hyangphung Farm in Songchon County and the Yakjon Farm in

December 29, 2025

New houses have appeared at the Samwon Industrial Crop Farm and the Hyangphung Farm in Songchon County and the Yakjon Farm in

Chinese FM rejects Japan’s ‘theory of nuclear possession’

Chinese FM rejects Japan’s ‘theory of nuclear possession’

A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Japan’s “theory of nuclear possession” at a press conference on D

December 29, 2025

A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Japan’s “theory of nuclear possession” at a press conference on D

More Articles