February 01, 2026Feb 01, 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

Russian president’s press secretary censures European politicians

Russian president’s press secretary censures European politicians

Dmitri Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, described European politicians as pitiable persons at a press conference o

January 31, 2026

Dmitri Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, described European politicians as pitiable persons at a press conference o

WHO director general censures US for quitting the organization

WHO director general censures US for quitting the organization

On January 22, the US formally left the WHO. The US claimed that its decision to leave the WHO was a reflection of the

January 31, 2026

On January 22, the US formally left the WHO. The US claimed that its decision to leave the WHO was a reflection of the

New history of socialist rural construction (2)

New history of socialist rural construction (2)

Strategic plan based on long-cherished desire The respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un unveiled a grand blueprint for the

January 31, 2026

Strategic plan based on long-cherished desire The respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un unveiled a grand blueprint for the

Cement complex fulfils monthly plan

Cement complex fulfils monthly plan

The Sangwon Cement Complex carried out its national economic plan for January ahead of schedule. The complex conducted

January 31, 2026

The Sangwon Cement Complex carried out its national economic plan for January ahead of schedule. The complex conducted

Russian FM spokeswoman decries reckless remarks of French president

Russian FM spokeswoman decries reckless remarks of French president

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, criticized the French president for his provocative remarks at a

January 30, 2026

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, criticized the French president for his provocative remarks at a

Innovations made in timber production in Jagang Province

Innovations made in timber production in Jagang Province

The Jagang Provincial Forestry Management Bureau is making innovations in the winter timber production. Thanks to the devoted

January 30, 2026

The Jagang Provincial Forestry Management Bureau is making innovations in the winter timber production. Thanks to the devoted

Cement and corrugated paper factories inaugurated

Cement and corrugated paper factories inaugurated

North Hwanghae Province has remodelled the Unpha Cement Factory and the Unpha Corrugated Paper Mill. Their successful renovation

January 30, 2026

North Hwanghae Province has remodelled the Unpha Cement Factory and the Unpha Corrugated Paper Mill. Their successful renovation

Meeting held to review farming in 2025

Meeting held to review farming in 2025

A meeting to review the farming in 2025 took place at the Cabinet on January 27 and 28 through video conferencing. The meeting was

January 30, 2026

A meeting to review the farming in 2025 took place at the Cabinet on January 27 and 28 through video conferencing. The meeting was

Credentials of Iranian ambassador accepted

Credentials of Iranian ambassador accepted

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

January 30, 2026

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

Modern farmhouses built in South Hwanghae Province

Modern farmhouses built in South Hwanghae Province

Modern houses have appeared at the Churung Farm in Samchon County and the Sinhwanpho Farm in Jaeryong County of South Hwanghae

January 30, 2026

Modern houses have appeared at the Churung Farm in Samchon County and the Sinhwanpho Farm in Jaeryong County of South Hwanghae

Conference of headquarters of WPK Central Committee held

Conference of headquarters of WPK Central Committee held

A conference of the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held on January 28 amid the

January 30, 2026

A conference of the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held on January 28 amid the

Birthday spread sent to centenarian

Birthday spread sent to centenarian

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Ju Chun Jo, a woman living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 12 of the

January 30, 2026

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Ju Chun Jo, a woman living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 12 of the

Canadian prime minister rejects US’ threat to impose tariff

Canadian prime minister rejects US’ threat to impose tariff

The Canadian prime minister expressed opposition to the US’ threat to impose tariff in relation to the Greenland issue on January

January 29, 2026

The Canadian prime minister expressed opposition to the US’ threat to impose tariff in relation to the Greenland issue on January

Modern farmhouses built in Kangwon Province

Modern farmhouses built in Kangwon Province

Along with a new era of the Korean-style rural development, farms in Changdo and Thongchon counties of Kangwon Province are

January 29, 2026

Along with a new era of the Korean-style rural development, farms in Changdo and Thongchon counties of Kangwon Province are

Kyongam Wood Processing Factory inaugurated

Kyongam Wood Processing Factory inaugurated

North Hwanghae Province built the Kyongam Wood Processing Factory in Sariwon City. This modern wood processing base with equipment

January 29, 2026

North Hwanghae Province built the Kyongam Wood Processing Factory in Sariwon City. This modern wood processing base with equipment

DPRK Missile Administration test-fires large-calibre MRLS

DPRK Missile Administration test-fires large-calibre MRLS

The Missile Administration of the DPRK conducted a test-fire on January 27 to verify the effectiveness of a large-calibre multiple

January 28, 2026

The Missile Administration of the DPRK conducted a test-fire on January 27 to verify the effectiveness of a large-calibre multiple

Laotian government sets forth major tasks for 2026

Laotian government sets forth major tasks for 2026

Recently, the Laotian government set its major tasks for 2026. A government meeting took place in Vientiane, the capital of Laos,

January 28, 2026

Recently, the Laotian government set its major tasks for 2026. A government meeting took place in Vientiane, the capital of Laos,

More Articles