Japan should apologize for wartime aggression: N Korea

Yawn The Koreas are becoming very boring over this issue indeed....

Japan was defeated in WW2, gave up Okinawa to the USA, dismantled its system of absolute monarch with power, agreed to not have a standing army, agreed to host American forces in its country......

.....come on North Korea, look forward, not back - haven't heard any apologies from you regarding the missile attacks on your southern brothers, or the murder of servicemen on that ship.

This is the bit that gets me.....

“Without apologizing for its past crimes, Japanese leaders have misled public opinions with the abduction issue and used it as a card to remain in power.”

So he believes that a unified feeling towards North Korea is what is keeping the politicians in power???? Perhaps he has overstated North Koreas importance in the area some what....

Does seem like NK is jumping on the same wagon as the Chinese love to do though....

Sad state of affairs on this side of Asia.

Oh geez - why don't we just list every country engaged in " wartime aggression " - from 2012 back - - and demand each country apolozie for their war-time aggression, starting with America (USA) . . . . then on the China (remember the outright slaughter of Bristish, USA, and other foreign citizens during the Boxer Rebellion.) . . . . . . . . .

Wartime aggression--sounds like an oxymoron. Is there non-wartime aggression? I guess that would be "saber rattling." How about wartime non-aggression? I've seen stories about enemies laying down weapons for the holidays.

This same crap pops up every year around this time. It must be election time in Korea. The Japanese have apologized and paid billions of yen in compensation..

“Without apologizing for its past crimes, Japanese leaders have misled public opinions with the abduction issue and used it as a card to remain in power.”

It means NK won't mention WWII issue (70 years case) if JP don't mention abduction issue (40 years case) every time! or JP doesn't really want NK to settle with the US? i really don't understand. JP actually made a lot of money during korean war. Isn't it? Don't forget Japanese is very smart!

North Korea, the second most vile nation in the world is doing what it has always done, hide from the truth.

North Korea is a failed state run by old men who only care for themselves.

If it not for the PRC this pariah would have died out years ago.

The North Korean government should apologize to their own people for starving millions of innocent people, while the government gets to eat whatever they want.

Perhaps North Korea should start by apologising for the abduction of Japanese citizens, from Japan. It's a far more contemporary historical event that, unlike the Japanese, North Korea has never apologised for.

When NK apologizes for kidnapping, i.e. Mickey! Minnie is heartbroken. NK, et al, need to move to the 21st century.

North Korea??? Is this the first time in a long time they brought up this subject. I am use to seeing South Korea bring up the subject. Wonder what the N. Korean dictators are bargaining for now. They have no right to expect anything from anyone until abductees are accounted for and hopefully allowed to return.

Japan made huge compensation payments, rebuilt its economy, and went on to become the world's biggest aid donor. It has also apologized endlessly, to the extent that one Chinese premier is reported to have said that he would shoot the next Japanese politician who visited China to say sorry for the war.

North Korea also needs to apologize: to Japan for abducting innocent people, including children, but most of all to its own people for keeping them in abject poverty, hunger, terror and oppression while their compatriots in the south have achieved miraculous growth and prosperity.

North Korea should shut the hell up.

North Korea should stop the current aggression. and return all those innocent Japanese and other people kidnapped by them.

North Korea have lost the last shred of credibility with the latest missile launch scam. They are like the unruly ruffians that live at the end of your street and tussle and threaten innocent passers by for no good reason. We know the people themselves are lovely, it's just the dysfunctional family running the government that gives them false voice.....Always after something for nothing....Always threatening... Always spending every last cent on themselves and a huge unwieldy military machine, put to no good use. To justify such a massive defence force, first you need a country worthy of invasion. FAIL. Given a choice, nobody even wants to share a border with you, let alone invade. NK. Land of the starving millions...and one fat guy.

North Korea is a failed state run by old men who only care for themselves.

Sadly - that statement could apply to quite a few nations in East Asia...

This is just sabre rattling on the part of the North Korean leadership. These spoilt aristocrats are just trying to take their own people's minds away from the harsh winter coming up- where sadly many children and woman will likely die of starvation. Down with the evil mega-rich aristocrats of North Korea - if only the downtrodden Korean people were in a position to rise up.

Havent the world emasculated the people of Japan enough! Mostly evreyone who was invoved in that conflict are pushing up daisys! Please people get over it,. Apologize? Is Japan a person! Its like me personally apologizing for slavery in America! Its absurd! Lets get on to peace and consideration!

Bad publicity is better than no publicity. Some people enjoy hearing their name somehow. The media is the reason this issue does not go away. It is the same as the Osprey issue; on and on and on.

This same crap pops up every year around this time. It must be election time in Korea. The Japanese have apologized and paid billions of yen in compensation..

There are no elections in north Korea.

Exactly how many times does he think they need to apologize?

Retern the bones?

Live and let live you 2 move on.

It seems people here are more concerned about who's talking, rather than what's being said.

It's hard to believe that people view the kidnapping of a few people (while as horrible as it is) as the same as enslavement of a whole country.

Whatever North Korea's problems are, Japan needs to sincerely apologize and educate its people instead of denying the details and whitewashing.

It seems people here are more concerned about who's talking, rather than what's being said.

That's because what is being said is relatively meaningless and what is more important is who is saying it.

It's hard to believe that people view the kidnapping of a few people (while as horrible as it is) as the same as enslavement of a whole country.

It's the oldest trick in the political manipulation book. The human mind doesn't do high numbers well. It can't distinguish between several hundred victims or several hundred thousand; it assigns the same level of emotional value. It's very easy for a politician to rile up his cheer squad by mentioning victims, following up with a massive emotional button (like the war), and then letting people's minds make the subconscious connection. It's so predictable it is somewhat sickening.

Whatever North Korea's problems are, Japan needs to sincerely apologize and educate its people instead of denying the details and whitewashing.

"Japan" is a political entity, not a person, and does not have the ability to do anything happily, angrily, sincerely, or any other human emotion. It is not physically possible. Asking for the impossible is at best a cheap trick, and at worst, provocation.

Similarly, telling other countries to teach history the way you like it is a demanding perfection with the full knowledge that perfection does not exist. The other day, a commenter pointed out to me that in the U.S., history books only show the U.S. troops as victims in the Philippines and don't show the actions the troops did to the locals. I responded that history books did no such thing; they didn't even mention the Philippines because the war over there simply wasn't significant enough to merit mentioning.

Like it or not, there is a limit to what can be taught to a child going through school, and just because a given pet cause isn't given what someone may consider enough time or coverage (or even mentioned), it doesn't mean that country is in denial. Chances are good it simply isn't worth mentioning.

I think Japan should apologize too. It would probably mean a lot to many people from many countries.

To be a good role model, I call on North Korea to apologize for abducting men, women and children from Japan and keeping them away from the families for all that time.

If there are still people there , they should be returned, any remains should be returned, compensation should be made and Kim should bow down deeply and show his deep remorse.

North Korea should pay for the families of those abducted to go to North Korea and be shown where their loved one's lived and where they died.

Then maybe after sincere apologies have been made, the families compensated, and North Korea vows to never again do such an inhumane thing, and also to stop firing rockets over Japan's air space and other acts of aggression- then I think Japan can apologize.

it must be time for NK's annual fund-raiser (ie, beg for food from everyone before the cold winter hits)

This same crap pops up every year around this time. It must be election time in Korea.

Guess you have a pretty limited knowledge of the North Korean system of government.

The North needs to apologize to the South for starting the civil war. They are responsible for killing millions of people including their own. Another apology from Japan? If the North had any real courage they will unify with the South under their government. Am sure the Republic of Korea can provide very comfortable retirements to the North leaders.

Japan needs to appologize exactly how many times? Once a year? Once every 5 years? And how many billions of yen in restitution? And how often? And the duration of the compensation package lasts how long, again? Forever? Correct me if I am wrong but...Japan LOST the war, right? North Korea (with American help) WON the war right? Isn't it the obligation of the victor to rebuild the looser? Or is that just an American thing?

YuriOtani; very good observation! I especially like the note, "Am sure the Republic of Korea can provide very comfortable retirements to the North leaders." Yes, I am sure a great number of 1.8 meter pine boxes can be built quickly! The leaders of Communist North Korea deserve appropriate retirement benifits. They have provided much the same for their people for several generations.

If Japan apologized, it would mean ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to many countries. It is assumed that the common people knows the history by stating this situation. It seems that the the old leaders just go to the filing cabinet and pull out the same propaganda for a specific date. It just a publicity stunt that the media fall for every year to stimulate discussion.

The other day, a commenter pointed out to me that in the U.S., history books only show the U.S. troops as victims in the Philippines and don't show the actions the troops did to the locals. I responded that history books did no such thing; they didn't even mention the Philippines because the war over there simply wasn't significant enough to merit mentioning.

Maybe your history books (or schools) didn't teach about what happened between the U.S. and other asian countries, but don't try to drag other informed people into your argument... And the Philippines, at least try to pick a country that the U.S. actually took some questionable actions against... The U.S. is no angel, but if you want to drudge up some bad politics, look no farther than George Dudya and Iraq... Aside from that, if you are looking to make a case against the U.S. you need to look at Latin America, from say mid 1800's to about 1900. Then you'll actually have a case to make... Not the Philippines though, you are making a mountain out of a mole hill... You are falling victim to this Japanese mentality of trying to explain away their REAL War crimes, what can't be disputed is simply countered with that, "Oh, well America did it too!" argument...

No, Sorry Not even close... Check your facts first.

Maybe your history books (or schools) didn't teach about what happened between the U.S. and other asian countries, but don't try to drag other informed people into your argument...

All school history books of all countries omit the majority of conflicts their country has been in. There is more than enough to teach kids as it is. The only ones you read about at school are the ones that significantly impacted the countries development.

And the Philippines, at least try to pick a country that the U.S. actually took some questionable actions against...

Well, at least one Filipino felt he had a case.

The U.S. is no angel, but if you want to drudge up some bad politics, look no farther than George Dudya and Iraq...

There is no such thing as good or bad politics.

Aside from that, if you are looking to make a case against the U.S. you need to look at Latin America, from say mid 1800's to about 1900. Then you'll actually have a case to make...

Don't really care about the U.S. specifically. I'm talking about pretty much every country with a standardized educational system in existence.

You are falling victim to this Japanese mentality of trying to explain away their REAL War crimes, what can't be disputed is simply countered with that, "Oh, well America did it too!" argument...

The whole point flew entirely over your head. I don't give a damn who did what. The Blame Game is a cop out. Any idiot can point to a country and claim "Oh, look, they aren't teaching the (insert personal tragedy here); they must be in denial, or whitewashing, or secretly hating us, blah, blah..." It's a cheap political tool used on those who don't bother to think before they respond. Do you think I care about the Philippines? I used that as an example because that is what the other guy was talking about. Insert whatever country and tragedy you want, it won't change a thing. The point is that demanding that your personal tragedy be included as part of a country's curriculum, and then using the absence of it as evidence of bad faith, is a cheap trick. It implies that the demand is reasonable, and the reward is generous, when in fact the demand is unreasonable, and the reward likely to be non-existent.

"If not for the PRC this pariah would have died out years ago"

Thanks a lot, PRC.

I think, again I think that if Japan Apologizes to Korea and send a Gift like a big statue the relationship between the two countries would be benefited greatly but I doubt something like that would happen and Koreans might still want some other compensation for the war crimes or whatever you want to call them.

Japan has apologized so many times already; why would another apology change anything? Similarly, how does a big statue compare with the hundreds of billions of yen that have been sent to Korea?