At the parade of land “self-defense forces” held on November 27 at Camp Asaka, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida took issue with our self-defensive measures for strengthening military capabilities and, by extension, talked about building a “capability to attack enemy base” and reinforcing “defense power” as a whole.

His remarks crossed the line into an unreasonable assertion - tantamount to a guilty party filing the suit first.

When it comes to Japan, it is an aggression state, a criminal state, that had invaded Korea and other Asian countries, and plunged them in a sea of blood. Our country is its direct victim.

It is none other than Japan that started invading Korea since hundreds of years ago, and annexed Korea by force in the past century. During the 40-plus-year annexation, Japan completely pillaged all human and material resources of our country, and ruthlessly trampled upon our sovereignty and right to development by introducing the most vicious fascist colonial rule.

Nothing, therefore, would justify or qualify Japanese disputing with our exercise of sovereign rights.

It is quite natural and reasonable that our Republic defends itself by bolstering up its strength sufficiently enough so that Japan and other hostile forces could not dare to infringe again upon its sovereignty and safety.  It is our legitimate right which can never ever be violated by anyone.

Building a “capability to attack enemy base” much claimed by Japan is apparently an aggressive war doctrine aimed at preemptive strike on other countries.

In order to translate this doctrine into action, Japan is now hell-bent on strengthening its “defense power.”

History carries sufficient evidence that preemptive strike has been a stereotyped war method employed by Japan.

Wars against Qing Dynasty and Czarist Russia which had been fought for an absolute rule over Korea, and September 18 Incident, July 7 Incident and sudden attack on Pearl Harbor which had been launched for domination over Asia and rest of the world – all these were aggression wars that Japan had started by sudden and preemptive strike.

Kishida’s claim on building the “capability to attack enemy base” and strengthening “defense capability” by disputing our measures taken to increase self-defensive capability is an exposure of his sinister intention to realize the Japanese reinvasion ambition at any cost by inculcating “threats” of neighboring countries.

An increased pursuit by Japan of its reinvasion ambition in revenge for its defeat will only invite an aggravated situation of the region and its self-destruction.

Cha Song Il

Director, Institute for Studies of Japan

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DPRK