KCNA Commentary Hits Japan for Its Unreasonable Restrictions on Exports to South Korea

Pyongyang, July 19 (KCNA) -- Amid the ever mounting anti-Japanese sentiment in south Korea over the restrictions on exports to south Korea, the chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan said on July 16 that the restrictions were not a retaliatory measure but they were taken for "appropriate control of exports aimed at security".

His remarks are no more than vague explanation made by the guy who was upset by bitter public protest against issues like "suspicions of south Korea's exports of strategic materials to north Korea", all of which Japan described as pretexts for the restrictions after the south Korean court decisions ordering Japanese companies to compensate victims of forced labor during Japan's colonial rule.

Question is, just how the Japanese authorities explained, why they chose the present juncture for the restrictions on exports to south Korea.

Externally Japan finds itself isolated in the international arena, marginalized by the trend of peace in the Korean peninsula and the region,

and faces an important political event, that is, the election of the House of Councilors at home.

It can be said that now is a crucial political moment for the Japanese politicians.

The Japanese reactionaries versed in drawing water to their mill at the sacrifice of others try to sacrifice south Korea, which they consider as an entity easy to deal with in the region, in a bid to get rid of their crisis at home and abroad.

And they are trying to destroy the trend of peace on the Korean Peninsula by putting pressure upon south Korea through the restrictions in a bid to create a political atmosphere favorable for realizing their wild militaristic ambition.

Furthermore, they seek to attain a medium- and long-term goal to deal a blow at the south Korean economy, arouse dissatisfaction at the authorities among south Koreans and thus help the south Korean pro-Japanese traitors, who were driven into a tight corner, come back to power.

On the other hand, they have carefully calculated to make their master undesirous of the aggravated south Korea-Japan ties consider the interests of Japan marginalized over the issue of the Korean peninsula.

They also seek to give a positive impact on the unity of and support for the rightwing forces at home through tightened restrictions on exports to south Korea so as to hold elections of the House of Councilors without difficulties and realize their long-desired aims including the revision of the Constitution.

Doing so will suffice Japan's political and diplomatic interests to help it make up for the loss from the deteriorating south Korea-Japan relations.

South Korean media and civic and public organizations stage a courageous struggle to lay bare the shameless sinister aim of Japan and protest against the unreasonable retaliatory economic measures.

This is the eruption of towering hatred and anger of the south Koreans towards the Japanese reactionaries attempting to wreck the hard-won peace in the Korean peninsula and the region by realizing their sinister political ambition at the sacrifice of south Korea.

All the fellow countrymen should take this opportunity to properly show the sworn enemy the strong spirit and mettle of the Korean people who love justice and never tolerate injustice.