July 01, 2025Jul 01, 2025
KCNA Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EN)

Can Sites of Forced Labor and Murder Become World Heritage?

Date: 11/01/2022 | Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EN) | Read original version at source

It has recently been revealed that the Cultural Council under the Agency of Culture of Japan is in its scheme to register Sado mine in Niigata Prefecture as a world heritage – a mine with clear historical traces of having forced the Koreans into hard labor.

Japan has the record in brazenly having Hashima coal mine registered as “cultural heritage” in 2015 - the site of horrendous slave labor which is notorious for the forced drafting of the Koreans.

Along with Hashima coal mine, Sado mine which had reportedly ranked as the leading gold-producing mine since the Edo age is also known among both the Korean people and the Japanese people as a living hell for its terrible living and working conditions, imposition of murderous labor upon the Koreans and extreme national discrimination.

In July 2021, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO made a strong request to the Japanese government to implement in good faith the decision of the Organization on taking appropriate measures to enable the world to be aware of the history of forced labor suffered by the Koreans at the Hashima coal mine which had been registered as a world cultural heritage. Nevertheless, Japan has flatly refused to do so up to now.

We can’t but be astonished at the impudence and moral inferiority of the Japanese government which is instead challenging this request by attempting again to show to the world and modern civilization the product of the colonial rule and witness to the crime of the Japanese imperialists as “cultural heritage”.

It is nearly 50 years since the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted in November 1972.

All Parties which have acceded to the Convention during the past half a century made commitments before the international society to preserve and transmit the natural and cultural heritage in their countries to future generations and to actively discover, conserve and protect the heritage of universal value.

But, only Japan is staining this sacred forum by misusing it with an ulterior aim for embellishing its crime-ridden history, which runs counter to the intrinsic mission of having the cultural heritage of special value to humankind registered in the “World Heritage List” for international protection.

Japan’s desperate attempt to cover its criminal records of aggression and plunder with silk cloth of “cultural heritage” is aimed at negating and whitewashing by every possible means its criminal history of colonial rule that had been devoted to bleeding our nation white.

The sites of forced labor and murder which are left with the vivid history of aggression and traces of crimes can never become world heritage.

Cha Hye Gyong

Researcher of Institute for Studies of Japan

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DPRK

More From Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EN)

Commitment to Building a Power

Commitment to Building a Power

We are celebrating today the 9 th anniversary of the significant day when respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was elected as the

June 29, 2025

We are celebrating today the 9 th anniversary of the significant day when respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was elected as the

DPRK Embassy in Moscow Hosts Reception

DPRK Embassy in Moscow Hosts Reception

The DPRK embassy in Moscow hosted a reception on June 23 on the occasion of the first anniversary of the historic DPRK-Russia

June 27, 2025

The DPRK embassy in Moscow hosted a reception on June 23 on the occasion of the first anniversary of the historic DPRK-Russia

51-year-long DPRK-Laos Friendship and Cooperation

51-year-long DPRK-Laos Friendship and Cooperation

June 24 is a meaningful day marking the 51 st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Democratic

June 24, 2025

June 24 is a meaningful day marking the 51 st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Democratic

U.S. “logic” can’t be justified by any means

U.S. “logic” can’t be justified by any means

Politico EU, the analysis website for European issues, recently revealed the U.S. scheme for redrawing the commanding map to put G

June 24, 2025

Politico EU, the analysis website for European issues, recently revealed the U.S. scheme for redrawing the commanding map to put G

Triumphant Spirit of Juche Korea into the Vast Expanse of the Ocean

Triumphant Spirit of Juche Korea into the Vast Expanse of the Ocean

The Juche-type military equipment is fully demonstrating the dignity of Juche Korea across the globe in every domain including the

June 24, 2025

The Juche-type military equipment is fully demonstrating the dignity of Juche Korea across the globe in every domain including the

Unforgettable Pictures in History of DPRK-Thailand Friendship

Unforgettable Pictures in History of DPRK-Thailand Friendship

June 19 is the day which opened another significant chapter in the history of friendly and cooperative relations between the

June 19, 2025

June 19 is the day which opened another significant chapter in the history of friendly and cooperative relations between the

Press Statement of Spokesperson for DPRK Foreign Ministry

Press Statement of Spokesperson for DPRK Foreign Ministry

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) issued the following

June 19, 2025

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) issued the following

Chinese Embassy in DPRK Hosts Reception

Chinese Embassy in DPRK Hosts Reception

The Chinese embassy in the DPRK hosted a reception on June 17 on the occasion of the International Day for Dialogue among

June 18, 2025

The Chinese embassy in the DPRK hosted a reception on June 17 on the occasion of the International Day for Dialogue among

Message of Sympathy to Prime Minister of India

Message of Sympathy to Prime Minister of India

Comrade Pak Thae Song, Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of sympathy to H.E.

June 16, 2025

Comrade Pak Thae Song, Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of sympathy to H.E.

Venezuela Slams U.S. Inhumane Crime

Venezuela Slams U.S. Inhumane Crime

The foreign minister of Venezuela recently exposed that Venezuelans in the U.S. are victims of systematic human rights violations,

June 15, 2025

The foreign minister of Venezuela recently exposed that Venezuelans in the U.S. are victims of systematic human rights violations,

More Articles