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Attempt to Twist History of Japan's Occupation of Korea


Pyongyang, February 18 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article rails against the Japanese reactionaries for asserting that the Japanese imperialists' occupation of Korea was not one by military forces. Pointing out that they cited the "treaties" and "agreements" fabricated by the Japanese imperialists between 1905 and 1910 to support their argument, the article dismissed this as a brazen-faced attempt to justify their military occupation of Korea. 

The article continues: It was clearly proved by undeniable historical facts and legal evidence that the Japanese imperialists occupied Korea by force of arms. The "five-point treaty of 1905," which the Japanese imperialists claimed to be a basic document that provided for their occupation of Korea, did not have any legal justification as it was of their own making. The treaty which the Japanese used as a basic framework for "annexing Korea" did not conform to any legal requirements of the treaty. It was a sheer fabrication in contravention of procedures for the conclusion of an international treaty. Any international treaty should be drafted and an agreement be reached on it after getting an formal approval of the state and signed by a representative invested with full authority. However, that treaty was not made with the approval of the state. Ko Jong, king of the country at that time, objected to the conclusion of the treaty to the last moment, stating he could not approve its conclusion as it meant leading the country to a ruin. After its fabrication, the Japanese presented it to the king of Korea for ratification many a time but in vain. Under this situation the diet of Japan could not ratify the treaty.

The treaty was not properly written in a legal style but was full of aggressive words wantonly encroaching upon the sovereignty of Korea. It also lacked a proper title because Japan could not reach a formal agreement with Korea, the other contracting party. Generally, it was called "five-point treaty of 1905" as it was fabricated in 1905 and contained five points. But the Japanese side gave different titles to it such as "Japan-Korea agreement", "new Japan-Korea agreement" and the "treaty on negotiations between Japan and Korea." The "treaty" also contained criminal points that called for depriving Korea of diplomatic rights and interfering in her internal affairs. The "treaty" was a criminal document fabricated by the Japanese imperialists at the point of bayonet. On November 17, 1905, the day when the treaty was concluded, the Japanese imperialists ordered the commander of the Japanese army stationed in Korea and the provost Marshal to throw many soldiers and military policemen into the venue of the cabinet meeting where the treaty was to be concluded to keep a watch over its conclusion. 

The UN Commission on International Law clearly stated in 1963 that there were only four treaties in the world among many international treaties which lacked legal validity from the very time of the conclusion and the "five-point treaty of 1905" was one of them. Branding the Japanese imperialists as the aggressor who occupied Korea by force of arms, the article concludes that the Japanese reactionaries can never twist the history of their military occupation of Korea.


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