Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- On August 24, 1945, the Japan-flagged ship Ukishima-maru carrying thousands of Koreans was blown up and sunk in the waters off Maizuru Port of Japan.
After hearing the news of the defeat of the Japanese imperialists, a large number of Koreans who were subject to medieval slave labor in Japan were so pleased that they were able to return their beloved home as Korea was liberated on August 15, 1945.
The Japanese reactionaries hatched a massacre plot in order to give vent to their anger at the defeat. So they persuaded or forced many Koreans to use the ship, saying that it is the only ship to sail to Korea.
At that time, ships of more than 100 tons were not allowed to sail in the territorial waters of Japan under the order of the Allied Forces, but the sailing of Ukishima-maru of over 4 000 tons was approved by the Japanese Ministry of Navy.
On August 22, 1945, the ship left Ominato Port with a small amount of fuel, sailed to the south along the western coast of Japan, and suddenly turned the helm near the port of Maizuru.
On Aug. 24, 1945, the Japanese on board fled by boat just before the explosion.
Soon, loud explosive sounds were heard several times and the ship was sunk, broken in two. And the Koreans were buried at sea.
After the incident occurred, the Japanese reactionaries made desperate efforts to cover up the truth behind the explosion of Ukishima-maru, terming it a "sinking accident caused by a mine".
But the Japanese reactionaries' assertion was clearly proved to be a sheer lie by the testimonies of the survivors and all the corroborative facts.
The explosion was not a mere sinking accident but a massacre committed according to the Japanese imperialists' premeditated and intentional manipulation.
This incident tells us how persistent and barbarous Japan's policy of exterminating the Korean nation was. -0-
www.kcna.kp (Juche113.8.24.)
More From KCNA.kp (En)
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of
March 20, 2026
Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- According to Minju Joson, the Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill in the DPRK has finished the
March 19, 2026
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- According to Minju Joson, the Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill in the DPRK has finished the
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in leading newspapers of the DPRK on Thursday: - New
March 19, 2026
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in leading newspapers of the DPRK on Thursday: - New
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- Grand choruses were performed respectively by graduates of senior middle schools in North Phyongan
March 19, 2026
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- Grand choruses were performed respectively by graduates of senior middle schools in North Phyongan
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- The Wonsan Leather Shoes Factory and the Wonsan Footwear Factory strive to further improve the
March 19, 2026
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- The Wonsan Leather Shoes Factory and the Wonsan Footwear Factory strive to further improve the
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- In recent one month, more than 600 women's union members in North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK
March 19, 2026
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- In recent one month, more than 600 women's union members in North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- More than a century has passed since Japan and the U.S. cooked up the "Katsura-Taft agreement" with
March 19, 2026
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- More than a century has passed since Japan and the U.S. cooked up the "Katsura-Taft agreement" with
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- Officials and builders in the field of rural construction are making preparations for rural
March 19, 2026
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- Officials and builders in the field of rural construction are making preparations for rural
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- The State Stamp Bureau of the DPRK has produced new stamps (two sheets and six individuals) in
March 19, 2026
Pyongyang, March 19 (KCNA) -- The State Stamp Bureau of the DPRK has produced new stamps (two sheets and six individuals) in
One day in September 2016, the respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un assigned officials detailed tasks and ways for building
March 18, 2026
One day in September 2016, the respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un assigned officials detailed tasks and ways for building
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- The 2026 Spring National Sports Festival opened in the DPRK. The festival will be held, divided into
March 18, 2026
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- The 2026 Spring National Sports Festival opened in the DPRK. The festival will be held, divided into
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- Single-hearted unity, the mainstay of the Korean revolution and an invincible weapon, is the
March 18, 2026
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- Single-hearted unity, the mainstay of the Korean revolution and an invincible weapon, is the
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- In hearty response to the important tasks set forth at the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of
March 18, 2026
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- In hearty response to the important tasks set forth at the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- The workers of the Sangwon Cement Complex are steadily making bold innovations by challenging the
March 18, 2026
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- The workers of the Sangwon Cement Complex are steadily making bold innovations by challenging the
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in Rodong Sinmun, a leading newspaper of the DPRK, on
March 18, 2026
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in Rodong Sinmun, a leading newspaper of the DPRK, on
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- There took place an exhibition of construction equipment and a ceremony of putting vehicles in
March 18, 2026
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- There took place an exhibition of construction equipment and a ceremony of putting vehicles in
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- Vladimir Topeha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy here, hosted a reception at the
March 18, 2026
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- Vladimir Topeha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy here, hosted a reception at the
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- Youth shock brigades of the Pukchang Area Youth Coal-mining Complex in the DPRK have conducted brisk
March 18, 2026
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- Youth shock brigades of the Pukchang Area Youth Coal-mining Complex in the DPRK have conducted brisk
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- Thanks to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un 's grand plan for the capital city construction and
March 18, 2026
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- Thanks to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un 's grand plan for the capital city construction and
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- Senior middle school graduates in North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK have volunteered for forefront
March 18, 2026
Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- Senior middle school graduates in North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK have volunteered for forefront
More Articles